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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



WADS WORTH MEMORIAL: 



CONTAINING 

AN ACCOUNT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CELE- 
BRATION OF THE SIXTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF 
THE FIRST SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWN- 
SHIP OF WADSWORTH, OHIO. 

WITH THE 

PRESENTED ON THAT OCCASION, 
ALSO, 

A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE HISTORY TO THE PRESENT TIME, 

WITH SKETCHES OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

THE ADJOINING TOWSSHIPS. 

TO WHICH IS ANNEXED 

310GEAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE MORE PROMINENT PIONEER SET- 
TLERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. 



/ 



By EDWAED BEOWN, A.M. 



WADSWORTH: 

STEAM PRINTINO HOUSE. 
1875. 



•J 






Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 
1875, By Edward Brown, A.M., in the Office of the 

LII5RARIAN OF CONGRESS, AT WASHINGTON. 



ERRATA. t 

Page 43, for Massiuiiga, i-cad Massisaiiga. Pajjfe 64, last 
line, lor west, read east. Page 147, lor Peter Mills, reatl 
eTcdediaii Mills. Page 174, line 16, lor Jrown. read Brown. 
Page 182, biograph}' of Cyrus Curtis, jr., time of arrival, 
for 1828, read 1823 ; for 47 years, read 50 years. 



PREFACE. 

The origin of this, as will be perceived, was in ihe de- 
sire of the people to perpetuate the memory of the carl}- 
settlement of the town and its immediate snrronndings. 
With this object in view the sixtieth anniversary of the 
tirst settlement was settled upon as the time for a re-union 
of sueh of the old pioneers as could be got together, in a 
general celebration. It was also contemplated that the 
proceedings of that occasion should be publislied in pani- 
jDhlet form, with brief sketches of some of the more Yjrom- 
iiient of the pioneer settlers. Alter the close of the anni- 
versary, the addresses, poems, and papers ot the occasion 
Avere arranged tor publication and lelt for the work to be 
conjpleted, wliile I returned to Minnesota. In the mean- 
time, I had received a call to the pastorate of the Congre- 
gational cliurch of Wadsworlh. which after my return I 
decided to accept, and moved here in August. On arrival 
I found that no steps had been taken towards publication. 
I then decided to put the whole into a book of larger 
forfij, with more extended biographical sketches and a con- 
tinued history down to thr- present time, to be bound in 
substantial form, so as to be preserved ibr future years, 
and pul)i!sl!ing it at my own expense. I have experi- 
enced great difficulty in getting authentic records for 
the geneakgical part, and regret to send it out so im])ei'- 
feet ; but enough is preserved to enable those interested 
to trace out I heir history, should any future occasion arise 
for doing so. Surh records, of course, ai"e not given as 
interesting reading, and belong rather to an ap])endix than 
lo the work itself. Yet occasiouallv an incident of iider- 
est in the history of an individual, as it came to my knowl- 
edge, has been inserted. It has been my especial care in 



PREFACE. 

all crises to exclule everything- that niiglil wound the feel- 
ings of any old citizens, or of their cliildren or descend- 
ants, r can not speak in loo strong terms of reprehension 
of the practice of some "who have pretended to give pio- 
neer histories or anecdotes, of picking up old rumors and 
irresponsible gossip against men who have for forty or fii- 
ty years slept in honored graves, against whom in their 
li etimc the tongue of slander dare not move; men whose 
works will follow them in blessings long after the memory 
of those vvh'), hyena-like, wonhl dig into their graves t«> 
feast on their failings, shall have perished. 

In preparing this work, I airknowledge my obligaiions 
to Mr. Northrop's Histor}' of Medina County, the Wads- 
worth Directory, \Vhi»tie'^y's liistory of Cleveland, the 
sketches published in the Wadsworth EnterprUe by Aai'on 
Pardee, George Lyuian, Albert Hinsdale and Benjamin 
Dean ; to Judge Allen Pnrdee, of Wa(''sworth, Charles 
Coe, Esq., of Norton, and Judge Henry Hosmer, N. B. 
Eastman, and Waters Harris, ol Guilford, for valuable in- 
formation. In justice to myself I would further add that in 
the account of the first ap})eara!ice of white men in W^ads- 
worth, and the oiigin of names, the compilers of the M;- 
dina Count}' Atlas saw lit to avail themselves of my orig- 
inal discoveries, and copy my language as given in former 
letters in the Enie>prist and repeated in the address, 
wit! out, as honorable men should have done, giving me 
credit therefor; and that with the knowledge, on their 
part, that I was embodying the same in tliis work; thus 
making me appear as a copyist Irom them of an item of 
jiistory ol which I was the onl\ person living who knew 
the fact and could give it to the world, and compelling me 
reluctantly to publish the fact, or lie under the same impu- 
tation. Hoping my imperfect efforts may perpetuate the 
memory of the worthy dead, and bless the living, I submit 
this work to an indulgent i)ublic. E. Brown. 

Wadsworth, Ohio, Apr. 20th, 1875. 



INTKODUCiOEY. 

Should any apology be deemed necessary for throwing 
upon the world another book, in this age when most em- 
phatically is it true that ''of making of books there is no 
end," especially one on a theme of so little interest to the 
world at large as the history of a township, or the annals 
of a country village, when the histories of nations and 
kingdoms and imperial cities find comparatively few read- 
ers ; when it is certain of only a limited circulation, never 
to be reprinted, and but few copies be seen beyond tlic 
lifetime of one generation, my answer is: For this very 
reason. The world is burdened with general histories. 
We read them, and think we know the people of wliom 
they treat. But w^e know only the history of those wiio 
least represent a people. The few great oAes. The top- 
most waves of the great ocean of humanitv : and soon liie 
mind wearies with the endless round of 'wars and revolu- 
tions, of successions and dynasties. The names of kings 
and emperors become a tiresome catalogue, and we lay 
down the volume of general history and take up some work 
of historic fiction, that deals with some of t.iie every-fu'iy 
scenes, and read it with a zest the dry historic page nc^vcr 
atforded, because it comes home to real life. Americaii his- 
tory has an autonomv differing essentiaiiv from that of ihe 
old world. It is not the history of a race, but of connnn- 
nities. Not of chieftains, warriors, and kings, but ol" tlie 
people. It runs not back to mythological fables, like those 
of Egypt, G reece, and Rome, nor to the semi-fictitious tra- 
ditions of barbaric races, like those of Northern Europe, 
nor to invading armies who have driven off or enslaved a 
former people, and created artificial grades in society, but 
i s all within the compass of authentic history. No hazy 



2 WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 

backgiourid of uncertainty, but the sharp outlines of facts 
recorded at the time ; history setting up and stereotyping 
itself as it passes along. 

It is the history of manhood left to develop itself in its 
normal method. Mind asserting and maintaining its su- 
premacy over matter. Man taking the dominion of the 
world, as originally intended by the Creator. Each within 
himself a lord, walking erect in the conscious dignity of 
the divine image. Men, no longer mere creatures of cir- 
cumstances, like the serfs and peasants of the Eastern Hem- 
isphere, ground into nothingness between the upper and 
nether millstones of an artificial and false social system, 
but making their own circumstances. The ground swell of 
rising humanity breaking up the stagnant sea, and moving 
forward the rising wave of a new civilization, destined in 
its course to sweep the whole earth, and prepare a new soil 
where a new order of things may spring up and grow. 

American history begins not with a nation, but with 
small communities. No invading armies or barbarous 
hoards overrunning a land, but here and there a shipload of 
peaceful immigrants, coming to foitnd, not find, a new or- 
der of things. Not to receive, but to 7nake a country. The 
primitive settlement grows into the town, the town into 
the county, the county into the State, and the State into the 
nation. The social compact signed voluntarily in the cabin 
of the immigrant ship, grows into the town ordinance, the 
town ordinance into the county regulation, the county reg- 
ulation into the State law, and the State laws into the 
national constitution. Thus a country, a people, and a na- 
tion form themselves on the Creator's model — the germ» 
the blade, the dcsvel oping and matured fruit. 

Our true history, then, is the history of settlements, the 
growth of towns, the enlargement of communities ; and it 
is becoming a great and advancing nation, that each com- 
munity of enterprising, intelligent, and moral people 
should feel a pride in perpetuating its history; to be able 



IKTRODUCTORY. 3 

to show the part they have had in creating and enlarging 
this grandest domain of the race of kingly men. A peo- 
ple who have a history preserved, to which they can refer 
with pleasure to prove their noble birth, not through some 
heraldic coat of arms, to show the rank in a plundering 
army that spoiled a country, their ancestors held, but by 
pointing to what their fathers did to found and develop 
their institutions. A godlike nobility, founded and per- 
petuated in the dignity of independent, honest labor, can 
never be enslaved. The best legacy we can leave to our 
country, then, is such histories, ennobling honest toil and 
thrift, and saying to our children : Like your fathers be- 
fore you, make yourselves and your fortunes, and then you 
will know that they are made. 

Such records are also valuable as way-marks to note the 
progress of our country, and the march of improvement. 
To show the toils and privations then undergone to clear 
up a wilderness, and people a continent with a civilized 
and enlightened race, while as yet none of the modern im- 
provements in facilities for trade, or transportation, or 
communication existed; when manufactures were in their 
crude state, when the resources of the people were taxed, 
often to the utmost, to procure the necessaries of life, fore- 
going or ignoring its luxuries. 

The heroic age of emigration has passed away. With 
the continent spanned by railroads, by means of which the 
journey over the same spaces is now counted in hours, 
that required weeks for the pioneer to accomplish ; when 
the emigrant can, if he wishes, carry his house ready 
framed to put up on his arrival (as has already been done 
on the vast Western plains). When there is no longer a 
frontier ; when what was then a vast, but unknown wilder- 
ness, is now divided up into States containing more inhabi- 
tants than were then counted in the whole United States, 
with cities, even, more populous than any city upon the 
continent at that period ; when church-spires are rising 



4 WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 

from the Atlantic to the Pacific ; when the man not yet at- 
tained to three-score years, wlio received the rudiments 
of his education in the log schooUionse, ni^on the very con- 
fines of civilization, now, a thousand miles beyond, sends 
his cliildren to the public school in a grand structure 
costing upwards of fifty thousand dollars; when indeed, 
in tlie lifetime of one generation, " tlie old has passed 
away and all things have )>ecome new ;" and so great are 
the changes from the old order of things that we seem to 
have become anliuuarians when we recount what befel in 
our earlier vears. Let the earlv history of each town and 
settlement, theii, be ])rcserv« d in enduring records, before 
the generation tliat were eve-witnesses of its events have 
passed away. Belbre they have become lost or exaggera- 
ted by uncertain tradition. 

Such records become more and more valuable with each 
decade; whil<> the old landmarks are fast disappearing, 
and the rcccdijig past has become but a ditn background to 
the more beautiful i)icture of the future. AVhether the 
book is or is not i-ead with interest now, it will be in the 
future. Some oM copy, gathered up, jx'rliaps. from )ieg- 
lected rubbish, may gladden the hearts ot an unl)orn gen'-- 
eration, when they find the names of their ancestors there, 
and read the authentic recoi'd of tlieir acts, and their worth 
in society. This thought is itself an inspiration that 
affords a conspensation. whatevcjr may be the present ap- 
preciation of the work. , 



WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 

To those who have seen the wave of emigration moving- 
forward across the prairies of the interior, the vast plains, 
and the Rocky Mountains, at the rate of a hundred miles a 
year, villages, and even cities, springing up through the 
impatience of speculation, before even the breaking-plow 
has turned up the virgin soil, the progress of settlements 
in the first quarter of this century must seem very slow. 

The first settlement of the Connecticut Western Reserve 
commenced about the beginning of the century. A few 
settlements were formed in what was then Trumbull coun- 
ty, now Trumbull, Ashtabula, Lake, Geauga, Cuyahoga, 
Portage, and Summit. But though the eastern part of 
Summit county had a few sparse settlements as early as 
1800, the whole of Medina county, and all west of it except 
an old French trading post at Sandusky, was an unbroken 
forest till 1811 ; and Wadsworth (the third settled town- 
ship of the county) till the year 1814. This township (No. 
1 of range 13 in the Western Reserve") is bounded on the 
south by the parallel of 41^ N. L., and lies about 30 miles 
south of the city of Cleveland. Its land is said to be in 
some points the highest in the State. The surface rolling ; 
the eastern and northern portion oiiginally covered with 
a heavy growth of oak, chestnut, whitewood, and beech ; 
abounding in springs and small brooks of clear watei- ; aifd 
in all parts in quarries of sandstone grit, making Uie best 
of building material. A large portion of the township^is 
underlain with mines of a superior quality of bituminous 
coal, a part of which are opened and worked, and probably 
much more yet unexplored. 

The village of Wadsworth, at the center of the township, 
was first projected by Frederick Brown, who built the first 
house upon what now constitutes the corporation. The 



6 Wadsworth memorial. 

second was built by Levi Blakeslee ; the third by Harry 
Riciuirds; tlie Ibui'th by Sherman Loomis. The village 
now contains about 275 dwelling houses. But of those 
improvements, and the growth of the place, we shall speak 
hereafter. 

In November, 1871, the compiler of this, who was reared 
from infancy to manhood in the place, and left for what 
was then the far AVest in 1840, for the first time since his 
exit made a short visit to his early home. At the request 
of survivijig friends, on his return to Minnesola he wrote 
a series of articles for the Wadsworth Enterprise, entitled 
" Memories of my early home." In the last article, he pro- 
posed to the present inhabitants that they should observe 
the sixtieth anniversary of the settlement of the township 
by a public meeting of the citizens, not only of Wads- 
worth, but of the adjoini)ig townships that in the olden 
time made up the comnmnity of which Wadsworth was 
the center, and a re-union of the old pioneers of wliat was 
then the settlement. This was heartily responded to, and 
the compiler, then a resident of Medford, Minnesota, was 
invited to be present, and deliver a historical address, 
and on the Sabbath following, to preach a memorial ser- 
mon giving its religious history, to be published in a book 
with biographical sketches of the early settlers. 

The 17th of March, the true anniversary, being in too 
cold a season for an out-door meeting to accommodate the 
crowds anticipated, the celebration was appointed to com- 
mence on the 28th day of May, and continue till the close 
of the Sabbath following. 

The details of this interesting celebration will be given 
as prepared and published by Mr. John A. Clark, in the 
Wadsworth Enterprise. The particulars of the first set- 
tlement will be found in connection with the proceedings 
of the pioneer celebration. 

In the Enterprise for March 5, 1874, the first preliminary 
meeting is noted as follows : 



WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 



The primary meeting we suggested to take steps in the 
pioiie er movement, was quite largely attended Saturday 
evening, and was particularly noticeable from the large 
number of old men present. The meeting elFected a tem- 
porary organization by calling Judge Allen Pardee to the 
chair, and electing E. G. Loomis Secretary. 

Three letters, written by Eev. E. Brown to citizens of 
this place, were read, and gave the key-note to business. 
On motion, a committee of three, consisting of E. G. Loo- 
mis, Orlando Beach, and Frank Mills, was appointed to 
report officers for a permanent organization, and presented 
the following : 

FOR PRESIDENT: 

JUDGE ALLEN PARDEE. 



Wa;levrorih. 

Geokge Lyman, 
George Kasor, 
Benjamin Tyler, 
Cyrus Curtis, 
David Ettingek. 

Akron. 

George Miller, 
Sherman Blocker, 
Almon Brown, 
Chaunoey Hart. 

Guilford. 

David Wilson, 
Henry Hosmer, 
Thomas Col burn. 

Norton. 

Charles Coe, 
Abraham Betts, 
Peter Waltz. 

Medina. 

T. S. Bennett, 
M, C. Hills. 



VICE PBSSIDENTS: 

Sharon. 

Hiram Hayden. 

Weymouth. 

Erastus Brown. 



fliram. 

James Newoomb. 

(Coventry. 

Caleb Battles. 

Huntington. 

Lorenzo Baughman. 

Rockfovd. III. 

Col. Norman Curtis. 

Bloom ington, 111. 

Orin Loomis. 

Eureka, III. 

Augustus Pardee. 

Elaivstown, Iowa. 

Benjamin Dean. 



8 



WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 



secretary: 

Aaron Pardee. 

committee of xvrrangements. 



Orlando Beach, 
E. G. LooMis, 
Dr. C. N. Lyman, 
John A. Clark, 



Frank Mills, 
Aaron Pardee, 
John Lytle. 



corresponding SECRETARY: 

Aaron Pardee, 
field marshal: 
Capt. H. a. Mills. 
The report was adopted. It was suggested that a com- 
mittee of old Wads worth citizens be appointed to invite 
back all former citizens, and the following were appointed : 



Allen Pardee, 
W. M. Eyles, 
O. Beach, 
George Lyman, 
George Rasor, 
Philo Mills, 
Aaron Pardee, 
L. N. Hard, 
Cyrus Curtis, 
Alexander Turner, 
Benjamin Tyler, 
Albert Hinsdale, 
Wm. C. Phelps, 
J. B. Campbell, 



Wm. Freeborn, 
Solomon Everhard, 
Adam Everhard, 
A. L. Simmons, 
Wm. Brouse, 
George Miller, 
John Wall, 
Levi Baughman, 
John Hunt, 
John R. Long, 
David Gunsaulis, 
David Waltz, 
John Baughman, 



The committee was instructed to invite the presence of 
Rev. E. Brown to participate in the proceedings, and pre- 
pare a history of the township, with biographical sketches 
of all the pioneers, to be published in book form. 

Subscriptions were then called for, and responded to by 
nearly $200 by those present, showing that the feeling is 
not merely superficial, but reaches clear down into the pock- 
et. The committee should not stop much short of $1,000, 
for we must expect all these visitors to be our guests, and 
they must be fed on the tat of the land, and conveyed to all 
points of interest, and among those will be their old farms, 



WADSWOKTH MEMORIAL. 9 

in carriages, which, together with the publication of the 
proposed book, and other necessary expenses, will take 
money. 

The time for the meeting was then discussed, and finally 
fixed to begin on the 28th day of May (Tliursday), and 
close on Sunday. The interval to be filled by an old folks' 
concert, visits, a show of the present generation, perhaps 
bv school districts, etc. 

The executive committee was instructed to appoint any 
sub-committees they may deem necessary, and take such 
steps as they deem proper to make the occasion a grand 
success. Adjourned to the call of the executive committee 
amid the best of feeling. 

The sub-committees and a general programme will be 
announced next week. The executive committee will 
meet at the Town H:ill on vSaturday evening to make the 
arrangements. 

In the number for March 12 is the further notice : 

The committee of arrangements have had several meet- 
ings the past week, and have appointed some committees 
and arranged the following outline of a programme : 

1st day, THURSDAY, MAY 28. 

1. National salute at sunrise. 

2. At 9 o'clock A. M. the procession will commence form- 
ing, and at 10 o'clock march to the grove, with music, 
flags, etc. 

3. Historical oration at grove, by Rev. E. Brown, of 
Minnesota. 

4. Basket dinner. 

5. Short speeches, toasts and sentiments, historical iiici- 
dents, etc. 

6. Exhibition of historical relics, together with remarks 
in relation thereto. 

7. Re-form and march to village. 

In the evening there will be a grand display of fire- 
works, with music, guns, etc. 



XO WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 

2d day, FRIDAY, MAY 29. 

The old pioueers will be waited upon with carriages, and 
taken to their old farms, and any other points of interest, 
for the purpose of showing them the Wadsworth of to-day. 
In the evening, a grand old-folks' concert will be held, at 
which the old customs of our fathers will be presented by 
the pioneers of Wadsworth. 

3d day, SATURDAY, MAY 30. 

On Saturday, at 1 o'clock p. m., the old pioneers will give 
a general reception at one of the churches. 

4tII day, SUNDAY, MAY 31. 

At 10>o o'clock A. m. Eev. Edward Brown, of Minnesota? 
will deliver a memorial sermon to the old pioneers. At 
2 o'clock r. m. an old-fashioned Deacons' meeting will be 
held at the Congregational church, after which the final 
good-bye will be spoken. 

The committee of invitation issued and sent forth the 
following circular letter : 

GREAT PIONEER MEETING ! 

SIXTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SETTLEMENT OF 

WADSWORTH. 

The undersigned, acting as a conmiittee for themselves 
and all the old residents and their descendants now living 
in Wadsworth, extend to you a cordial invitation to be 
with us on 

THURSDAY, MAY 28, 1874, 
The sixtieth anniversary of the settlement of Wadsworth, 
called to revive old recollections, and renew old acquaint- 
ances. We hope to see every old pioneer now living, 
wherever scattered abroad, present on that occasion. 
Manv have a.lreadv given assurance that they \\ isl be pres- 
ent if alive. We also invile all the Mothers, Wives, Sis- 
ters, Daughters, Fathers, Husbands, Sons, and clesceiidants 
of the old pioneers, and all tl.eir friends, assuring them of a 
most cordial welcome. Arrangements will be made for 
the accommodation of all who will favor us with their 
presence. Let each one bring with him any interesting 



Wadsworth memorial. 11 

relic, heirlooni, or memento of old times or old settlers of 
Wads worth he may have in his possession. 

We desire to add to our present stock of materials for 
the early history of the township, a biography of each old 
resident, containing the date and place of his birth, and all 
such other facts as may be now known. Let each pioneer 
write out something, or cause it to be done, of history of 
himself or some other; also facts, anecdotes, or what may 
be remembered of " Auld Lang Syne." In the history 
we shall publish, we shall embody the names of ail our 
guests, with an account ot the proceedings of our Aimi- 
versary Day ; also all such letters as may be received from 
old settlers unable to attend. 

Come, then, old pioneers, and see the Wadsworth of to- 
day — witness the result of your labors, cheer us by your 
presence and help us to make it a gala-day. We expect 
one of the largest meetings of the kind ever held, and hope 
to have a good time generally. Please write to us on re- 
ceipt of this, and assure us of your presence if possible ; 
and if not, write anyway. Address Corresponding Sec- 
retary. 



Allen Pardee, 
W. M. Eyles, 
O. Beach, 
GEORaE Lyman, 
George Rasor, 
Philo Mills, 
Aaron Pardee, 
L. N. Hard, 
Cyrus Curtis, 
Alexander Turner, 
Benjamin Tyler, 
Albert Hinsdale, 
Wm. C. Phelps, 
J. B. Campbell, 



Wm. Freeborn, 
Solomon Everhard, 
Adam Everhard, 
A. L. Simmons, 
Wm. Brouse, 
George Miller, 
John Wall, 
Levi Baughman, 
John Hunt, 
John R. Long, 
David Gunsault«, 
David Waltz, 
John Baughman, 



Committee of Invitation. 
Aaron Pardee, 

Corresponding Secretary. 
Wadsworth, O., March 2, 1874. 



12 WADSWoRTli MEMORIAL. 

PROCEEDINGS OF THE PIONEER MEETING. 

For several weeks the people of Wadsworth had been 
making preparations to receive the early settlers of the 
township, and give them a rousing reception. The time 
slowl)^ approached, and occasionally an old settler came in 
to look over the scenes of his childhood, before the day ar- 
rived. The day previous to the celebration, quite a large 
number arrived, and on the 28th many more came, stran- 
gers to almost all, vet warmlv attached to the old, old home. 
They looked with astonishment upon the Wadsworth of to- 
day, and could scarcely realize that here is where they 
heard the dreary howl of the wolf, and saw the panting 
deer chased by the early hunter. Here Avas the scene of 
their early trials and hardships ; here they spent the prime 
of their lives, and here to-day they shed the tear of joy. 

Thursday, May 28th, opened clear and warm. At an 
early hour teams began to come in from the country, and 
by 10 o'clock the streets began to assume a crowded ap- 
pearance. 

The hour having nearly arrived for the grove exercises, 
Marshal Mills and his assistants formed the procession in 
the following order : 

1. Wadsworth Cornet Band. 

2. President, Orator, and Vice Presidents of the day. 

3. Pioneers in wagons and on foot. 

4. Wadsworth Union school, followed by tne various 
districts in the township. 

5. Citizens on foot and in carriages — the latter number- 
ing 190. 

As the procession was very long, the march was from 
the square south to Pine street, down Pine to Lyman, and 
up Lyman to Loomis' beautiful grove. Here were a large 
number of seats, all occupied, and many were not able to 
sit. The woods were full of wagons and people. The 
stand was capable of seating about eighty persons, and was 



WADSWOUTH MEMORIAL. 13 

Alleci with white-headed men and women. Tlie following- 
Vice Presidents were present, and occnpied a place on 
the stand : 



George Lyman, 
George Rasor, 
Benjamin Tyler, 
Cyrus Curtis, 
David Ettinger, 
George Miller, 
Sherman Blooker, 
Almon Brown, 
Chauncey Hart, 
David Wilson, 
Thomas Colburn, 
Abraham Betts, 



Hiram Hayden, 
T. S. Bennett, 
Erastus Brown, 
M. C. Hills, 
Caleb Battles, 
L. Baughman, 
D. Galehouse, 
Augustus Pardee, 
Benjamin Dean, 
Henry Hosmer, 
Charles Coe, 
Peter Waltz. 



Judge Allen Pardee, President of the daj^, called order, 
and a song, entitled " Welcome, Pioneers," composed for 
the occasion by Mrs. Stanhope, of Guilford, daughter of 
Judge Henrj'^ Hosmer, was sung by the choir, with instru- 
mental accompaniment ; at the close of this. Rev. J. F. 
Rowe, of Akron, offered prayer, the audience rising. A 
song, entitled " Fifty Years Ago," was then sung, followed 
by music by the band. 

Benjamin Dean, of Iowa, was then introduced as the 
first man who struck a blow toward the settlement of 
Wadsworth. Aaron Pardee then read an address, pr(!- 
pared by Mr. Dean, he being unable to read, from the in- 
firmities of age. 

The choir then sang the song, " American Ensign," 
which was followed by music by the Wadsworth Cornet 
Band. 

Rev. Edward Brown, of Minnesota, was then intro- 
duced, who delivered the historical oration. 

Mr. Brown's remarks were followed by music by the 
choir, " Old Church Bells." 



\4: WADSWORTll MEMOillAi. 

After a sumptuous basket dinner, Aaron Pardee read a 
sketch of eai-ly settlement, by Peter Waltz, dating back to 
August, 1814. 

The following relics were then exhibited : 

Pitcher, made in commemoration of Erie Canal, in 1824, 
50 years old. 

Specimens of glassware, made in the city of New Por- 
tage, over 50 years ago. It then promised to be a city. 

Sauce-dishes, also from New Portage. 

Weavers' shuttles, of very ancient appearance. 

Small jug, a lady had 77 years. 

Nice crockery, of ornaments, etc. 

Wineglass, belonged to the father of Charles Coe, (52 
years ago. 

Horn tumblers, age not given, shown by H. A. Mills. 

Cow-bell, dated 1770, and brought into the country by 
John Brief. 

Likeness of Pliilo French, buried in 1823, somewhere 
near Mr. Turner's. 

Ox-yoke, shown by A. Hinsdale ; 55 years ago was used 
on one ox ; (single ox did all their work for several years ; 
going to church, mill, etc.). 

Staff used by A. Hinsdale's father, as long ago as A. IT. 
can remember. 

An Indian box, presented to Mrs. Richard Clark, in 1810. 

Article of cookery, which came from England many 
years ago. 

Two powder-horns, presented to Daniel Wilson by an 
Indian, in 1812. 

Fabric, made by Mrs. A. Dean, 70 years ago. 

Mustard-cup, brought from Massachusetts, in 1817. 

First book of music ever used in Wadsworth, published 
in London, 1772 ; the property of the late Judge Brown ; 
exhibited by E. Brown. 

Model of iron ship, the property of Judge Hosmer, of 
Seville, constructed by Charles Olcott, in 1834, who was 



WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 15 

the original inventor of iron ships. Judge Hosmer has had 
it for about 30 years. Was originally rigged with masts, 
etc. N. B. Eastman gave explanation showing the design. 
Hard, of Wooster, gave further information. This inven- 
tion was gotten up by Olcott, when a student at Yale Col- 
lege. The inventor died in the poorhouse, in Medina 

county. 

Pair of smoke-tongs, used by old Esq. Kirkum, said to 
be about 200 years old ; exhibited by Mr. Charles Coe. 

Overcoat, made in the height of fashion, for Mr. Charles 
Coe, about 30 years ago— drab broadcloth. Fancy work, 

etc. 

Communication from Mrs. Stearns, known as wife of 

Philo French, formerly of Wadsworth. 

Her father was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. She 
was born in 1797. She gave some accounts of early recol- 
lections an<l incidents of about 1816-1818 ; among which 
was the dressing of a rattlesnake for a sick woman, and 
the history of her family, breathing a very good and 
Christian spirit. 

Rev. E. Brown exhibited a copy of the Cleveland (O.) 
Herald, dated in 1827 ; advertisement of Allen Pardee, 
J. P., etc., creating much merriment. 

Biographical sketches by Aaron Pardee, and also giving 
history of his arrival here, and a brief, practical allusion 
to the past, and the Wadsworth of to-day. 

N. B. Eastman read a poetical composition relative to 
early history ; composed by Mrs. Sarah M. Eastman. 

James Redfield, of Harrisville, the famous wolf-catcher, 
one of the three survivors of those who first came into 
this county— gave several wolf stories; he had carried 
several home alive, after they had been caught i)i a ti-ap ; 
had caught 120 up to 1830 ; bought a horse for one dollar 
to use in bating traps. To encourage the young people in 
<'-etting married, he said he caught wolves to get money to 
pay the miuistev withi 



16 WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 

Tiie meeting then adjonnied to May 28th, 1914, the hun- 
dredth anniversary of the settlement of Wads worth. 

All joined in singing Old Hundred, after which the 
benediction was pronounced by Kev. V. Noyes. 

FRIDAY, MAY 29. 

The day opened clear and hot, but the programme of 
visiting dillerent points of interest in the township was 
carried out. The party consisted of about twenty-five per- 
sons, and went first to Western Star, thence north to the 
cemetery, thence on to Bigelow Chapel, and thence home 
by the diagonal road. 

On the way to the cemetery, they stopped at interesting- 
points, when Rev. Edward Brown explained scenes and 
incidents of early pioneer life in the wilds of Wadsworth, 
which brought up its early history vividly to the minds of 
the company. 

At the old cemetery, north of Western Star, scores of 
names on tombstones, sacred to the memory of good men 
and women, were read, and blessed memories recalled of 
them, although some of them had lain there over half a 
century. After a sad, but pleasant half-hour was spent in 
this sacred spot, the company proceeded on their return to 
the village. 

The description of this memorable ride would be incom- 
plete without mentioning pleasant episodes in it. 

On their way to Western Star, the company hauled up 
to the pleasant residence of that old pioneer, Philo P. 
Mills, and were received by him and his excellent wife 
with an old-fashioned, hearty welcome, and regaled with 
cream, milk, cakes, etc., and had a most pleasant time, nev- 
er to be forgotten by its fortunate participants. 

On their return home, they were ordered into the pleas- 
ant yard and residence of the late Col. H. A. Mills, where 
they were most hospitably entertained by his sou and 
worthy wife. 



WAJJSWORTII Mii:MORrAL, 17 

Tbcy drank I'rom the spring- where many of them had 
slaked their thirst tifty-iive years ago. 

They separated, many of them never again to meet on 
this side of tlie mystic river. May we all be blessed and 
benetited by this pleasant reuiuonj and be ever ready, Avhen 
the summons comes, to go lience. 

At 3 o'clock 1'. M.. a general reception was given at the M. 
E. church, Shennan J51ocker, of Akron, presiding. Re- 
marks Avere made by \V. McCloud and Deacon Norlhrop^ 
after Avliich a recess of Hfteen minutes was had, during 
which there was a very social tinu'. After recess, a motion 
prevailed to limit speeches to live minutes. Eemarks Avere 
made by (^.'u. Xorthroj), ]M. V. Hills, Capt Geo. Lyman, 
]Mrs. Hobarl. IJcv. E. Hrown, iienj. Tyler, L. X. Hard, and 
various others, occasionally interrupted by recesses, and 
singing led by (ien. Xorthrop, the latter consisting of old 
tunes in the old style. 

Mrs. Hobart had lalely nuide a visit to lii1}cksville, and 
brought from J^ev. Ureck, wlio used topreacli here, for the 
Congregationalists. his congratulations and good Avishes. 

Mr. I'aj'dee reicrrcd to a number of letters from old pio- 
neers, not read yesterday, for want of time, among Avhich 
Avas one from Ira A. Sprague, of (xleuAVOod, loAva ; one 
from Almon 15. (irccn, of Willoughby, Lake county, O. ; 
one froin Philander Green, of Lordstown, Trumbull coun- 
ty, (J. ; one from Mrs. Susan Kenyon, of Fulton, N. Y., 
Avidow of the lat<' 1 )r. Pardee ; one from G. O. Fay, and his 
mother. Mr. Fay is the son of Rev. Gilbert Fay, Avho died 
iji this place, about the year 1835. He and his mother are 
employed as snperintemlent and nuitron in the Deaf and 
Dumb Asylum at Columbus, (>. ; one from Eugene Pardee, 
of Madison, AVisconsin ; one from Dr. Samuel AVolf, of 
Wilmot. Stark county, O. All these Avriters regretted their 
inability to attend, and sent their regai'ds and hest Avishes 
for the success of all ilicir oldfriemls. After singing Coro- 



18 WADSAVOETIT MEMORIAL. 

nation and the DoAology, the (•unipany adjuurned,- with 
ilia best of feeling'. 

In the evening, there >vtis (^uite a kirge gathering at Dr. 
Lyman's residence, in resi)onse to an invitation from him. 
The time was spent in visiting, singing after tlie manner ol" 
our tathers, drinking lemonade, &<*. The band also added 
mueh pleasure to the occasion, by fnrnisliing excellent 
music. 

On Saturday eveniug, iha old and young singers met at 
the residence of Wm. M. Eyles, aud had a very pleasant 
time. The evening was spent in social conversation, sing- 
ing, &('.. 

SUJSDAY, MAY 31sT. 

The day opened warm, but there was a cokI breeze stir- 
I'ing, making the out-door meeting in Loomis* beautiful 
grove C|uite pleasant. I)ut it was i-atlnir diflicult for the 
Kpeakcr to make himself understood. As there was no 
other meeting*ln town at this hour, the attendances was very 
large, probably nun)beriug 2,000 i)eoplc. tlu^ exercises 
were opened by the reading of tlie (Jotlj Psalm, by ]?ev. T. 
W. Browning, which was followed by singing '* All hail the 
Power of tlesus' Name ;" after which, prayer was olFered 
by Kev. S. C Goss. After another hymn and some an- 
nouncements, Rev. Edward Browu preached his memorial 
!^ermon. from the 78th Psalm, (ith and 7ih verses. 

The religious exercises being closed. Judge Allen Pardtie 
again took the chair, and announced the arrival of tlic time 
for the leave-taking, and the tinnl good-by of llic pioneers 
and numerous guests. 

At this point. E. G. Loomis read a poem, by .Mrs. .Jennie 
G. Brown, of Medford, ^Minnesota, wife of Kev. E. Brown, 
addressed to the old pioneers, which was well received. 

Aaron I\nrdee offered the following resolution, as a final 
good-by to the old pioneers. 

Mesolced: That we thank you I Believe us. old frieuds 
from all parts. Our good-by comes u}) from the depths of 



w \D,^wbrvTi£ mf:mou r a i .. 19 

our hearts. We thtiiik voii Ibi- (lie joys you have kindled : 
and O mav the joy.s oi' our meeting- eontiuue to glow! 
We hope, and believe, you have liad a good time ; for to U8, 
we assure von, it has been sn])lime. And now, as the time 
lor the good-bv has come, aiuL each will return once again 
to his home, mav blessings, such as only Heaven can give, 
be Avith all the old settlers, as long as they shall live. 

This resolution was seconded by E.G. Loomis, and passed 
bv the audience present, with a perfect shout of acclama- 
tion. Also on motion of K. G. Loomis, seconded by Aaron 
J*ardee, a vote of thanks was given by hearty acclamation 
to Rev. E. Brown, for his address and sermon, to give 
which he had made a journey of 8(X) miles. 

The Deacons" meeting, at the (Congregational church, was 
opened by Father Lyman reading the hymn beginning, 
'' Cojne Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove," which w\as sung by 
the choir, after which, he read the lioth Psalm, without the 
use of glasses, though 8-1 years old. This w^as followed by 
prayer by J. M. Beach, of Chatham. After another hymn. 
Father Lyman took up the old book of sermons previous- 
ly alluded to, ami turned to an old sermon, the author of 
which he had heard in his earliest recollections. Mv. K. 
G. Loomis was called npon to read it, and did so. 

.1. B. Campbell followed with prayer, ami the closing 
hvnin, " Lord dismiss us with thy blessing," was sung, after 
which the mcctiug adjourned. 

Thus ended the most memorable series of meetings ever 
held in Wadsworth, and one that did much to mold pub- 
lic sentiment for the right. 

in the Akron Daily Argus, and the Akron Daily Beacon, 
are extended notices, portions of which we also give, which 
will show how the celebration was viewed by those out- 
side of town. 

From the Argus of May 29 : 

Yesterday was a magnificent occasion for Wadsworth' 
and Medina county. It w^as our pleasure to be present, and 
enjoy and participate in the festive entertainment. W« 



20 W ADSWOTMII Mi;.M(»l.'l.\!.. 

have rciisoii to believer tluit it lias excelled aiiydiln^i' of the 
kind that has over boon held in the State of Ohio. Ample 
l)rovisi()n had been made for the entertainment of tlie pio- 
neer guests, some of Avhom came from jNIinnesota, Wiscon- 
sin, Iowa, and Illinois. The Wadsworth Cornet Hand, and 
(jrlce Club, all day long- discoursed tlie sweetest music, and 
sang" in dulcet strains, the most appropriate songs. The 
procession that formed in the ceiiler of the town, under 
the direction of Capt. lleni'v A. ^Vfills, ISTarsliall of the dav 
and that moved to I.oomis' grore, inside the corporation, 
was over a mile in length. lion. Allen Pardee presided, 
being' tlie oldest gentleman on the stand, hut not the oldest 
settler. Aaron Pardee, Esq.. humorously remarked, thai' 
though his brother Allen was the chosen Moses to lead the 
people forward, he (Aaron) was chosen to be his brother's 
spokesman. Rev. Edward Brown, of ]\[iunesota, delivered 
the historical oration, Avhidi was not only ela])oralely pr(>- 
pared, and systematically arranged, hut was prolilic of 
thought, full of beautiful sentiment, excecdingiy humor- 
ous, and crowded with iucideutsand reminiscences of sixty 
vears. 

« 

As it is the intention to incorporate the proceedings of 
the rc-nnion in book form, thir address \\ ill appear before 
Jong, printed in that shape. 

A note-book, that was printed in 177:^. was exhibited, 
Avhich was sung out of 58 vears ago. in Wadsworth. The 
choir on the platform entertained the vast assembly, by 
singing out of this antiquated book, atnne called Tfolborn. 

Benjamin Dean, of Iowa, was introduced as the tirst white 
man who felled a tree in the township. Alonzo Durliam wa s 
the first cliild born in the townshi[). iu 1814. At that time, 
during" the war of 1812 — 1815, flour was shown to be Avorrh 
$17 a barrel, Avheat $3 a bnshcl. corn $2. and salt JO cents a 
pound. The tirst fruit plucked, was in 1821. .lames L. 
Redfield, the oldest surviving settler of ihe county, and a 
famous wolf-hunter, related his early woliish exploits. 



■ ^ 



WAHSWOUTK MKMOiaAL. 21 

K. (i. Looiuis, ill characteristic style, exhibited many an- 
tique and rare relics — sncli as a pitcher, made in commem- 
oration of the opening' of the Erie (^anal. in IS24; sauce- 
dishes, manfactnred of glass, at New Portage ; slnittles, for 
weaving linen and linsey-woolsey; a quaint little jug, pre- 
sented to ihv family, about 77 years ago ; a wineglass, 
brought into the country 62 years ago; tumblers, made of 
horn ; a cow-bell, nuide in 1770, in Holland, and ])ronght to 
t his country. K. G. Loomis quieted the babies by tingling 
this old Dutch bell, whose minor-key tones excited cnrious 
recollections. An old-fashioned, black profile of Philo 
French was displayed. An ox-yoke, 55 years old, and in- 
tended only for one ox, once the ])roperty of Capt. Hins- 
dale. One ox did their work for several years. A cane, 
made 90 years ago, also the property of Capt. Hinsdale^ 
the father of Albert Hinsdale ; pewter steam-dishes, shown 
by Mrs. Henry A. Mills. Powder-horns, made in 1812, now 
the property of David Wilson. Embroidered linen, handi* 
work, made by Mrs. A. Dean, 70 years ago ; a cup, from 
Massachnsetts, made in 1817. Biit in the inventory of rel- 
ics given, the rarest was that of ji model iron ship, made l)y 
Charles Olcott, an ingenions and talented lawyer of Me- 
dina. This model, which is now the property of Jndge 
Ifosmer, of Seville, was gotten up while Mr. Olcott was a 
student of Yale College. An English student was attend- 
ing the same College. The snpposition was expressed, that 
this stndent carried the idea of this model iron ship, across 
to England, where it was projected, and from which origi- 
nated the Great Eastern. At the time of the invention, 
Mr. Olcott being a rigid, nncompromising Abolitionist, a 
Democratic Congress wonld not assist him in ])rosecnting 
his work. 

A fancy box, made ]>y Indians, and presented to Mrs. 
Hannah Clark, in Xova Scotia, in 181(3; most ingenious 
pair of smoking-tongs, made in Holland over 200 years 
ago. ilie property of Charles Coe, and presented to him by 



*>r) NVADswonrii ME>foT{r.\i.. 

his iiiaudfathcr: iil.so it dnil) hroarlolotlj ovorcoat, made for 
(•harles Coe, whir-li ho exhibited on his ])ersou, to llie mer- 
liiiient of all, the yoiiii«- in particular. 

E. G. Looniis read an essay, which was written by Mrs. 
Mary Stearns a pioneer lady, 77 years of ai»(' — she beiuji 
present — and in her essay tellin<i that she Jiad heen a mem- 
ber of the M. K. ( •hnreh ^a vears. Next on exhibition, came 
a copy of the Cle(a)veland Herald, printed on Fi'iday. 
Aiignst 3. 18*27 — an aniiqnated. din^y lookin<i- thinii', by tl\e 
side of the presenl Herald. It contains some cnrions ad- 
vertisements — one in parlicnlarby rhidj^c Pardee, the read- 
int»- of which excited lauj^hter throiijihont the audience. A 
witty, orij^inal poem, was read by Aaron TanU'e: also a 
A'erv fme oi'ii'inal poem, bv Mrs. Sarah Eastman. 

About one hundred of the ori;[>inal pioneers were pres- 
ent, whose at>es ranjj'e between .')0 and 85. . 

Takinji it all in all. tliis was one of the happiest, liveliest, 
loveliest,^and most satisfactory meetiuL's we ever attended. 
I'our generations were })resent to enjoy tlie festivities. But 
for the presence of white hairs and gray beards, a stranger 
woubl liave sn})])osed the assembly was composed of youn^J 
men and rhaidens. J>rav<' old men — they met in joy. they 
])arl in tears. 

I'rom the Beacon, of May '3. 

[(■o!-i'(Vspoii(l('IiCi' of TlIK IJEACON.] 

Wadsworth, May 28. 1874. 

Early this morning our streets bej^an to fill up with peo- 
ple, and by 10 o'clock tlie sidewalks were everywhere full. 
A hirge number of old pioneers, from all parts of the coun- 
try, had been coming in for several days, and as they met 
each other after a long separation, the scenes were often 
atlecting. 

At 10 o-clo(;k, the proc(.'ssion was formed, and marched to 
the grove, headed by our cornet band. There were one 
hundred and ninety w*agons and carriages in line, and a 
very larae crowd on foot, which, witli the number that had 



WADSWOKTH MEMORIAL. S3 

previously gone to the grove, made the iiuiilber in atten- 
dance about 5,00() people. 

Judge Allen Tardce. the oldest man in the township, and 
President of the day, ealled the meeting to order, and al- 
ter a song by the choir, pniyer was otlercd by ]{cv. J- V. 
ifowe, of Aki'on. Benjamin Dean, of Iowa, the man who 
raised the tirstax to snbdue the forests of Wadsworth, was 
llien introdneed, and gave a brief sketch of his early reeol- 
leclions. and was received with applause. Rev. Edw^ird 
Brown, of Minnesota, then followed with a well written 
address, giving the history of the township, historical inci- 
dents, biographical reminiscences. &c.. in an able manner? 
recalling many very pleasant, as well as sad recollections* 
His memory is verv prolitic in the earlv history of this 
place, and his pleasant address made it a rich treat to all 
who Avere able to hear his voice. 

At the close of the address, the basket dinner was an- 
nounced ; and a dinner it was, too. Every place in the 
capacious grove had its grouj) of friends, surrounding the 
good things ot life, prepan^d foi' the occasion, and all en- 
joyed it in the height of pioneer style. 

After dinner, a historical sketch, by Peter Walt/., wa*^ 
read, dating back to August, 181.4. when his Hither s family 
came to the vicinity, and had :i full share cd" the hardships 
of those early days. 

Several letters from absent, parties were read. })rea(liiiig 
a deep intei'est in the event of this meeting, and giving 
incidents. 

On motion of Kev. E. Brown, it was carried that when 
this meeting adjourn, it be to the 28th day of May, iUli, 

All joined in singing the Doxology, after which the ben- 
cdic^tion wa.s pronounced by IJev. V. Noyes, of Seville, and 
the meeting adjourned. 

The history by Mr. Dean w as very interesting, as con- 
taijiing many historical facts. connecte<l ^\l\h the early hisr 
Tory of this section of the ('ouuti-\. On Mai'ch ITth. iSM.- 



24 WADSWOKTll 3ri:M0RIAL. 

Mr. Dean and Mr. Durliani built llic first house in Wadis- 
wortli. At tliut time, tlicre wei"e but eight houses between 
liere and what is now Middlel)ui'y, tlien known as Tall- 
njadge. Akron was tlien merely a swamp, and but two or 
three houses were built, where now stands vonr beautitul 
fity. 

The address by Mr. iJroM ii was very tiiic The si)eaker 
first sj)oke of liis childhood among the woods tliat stood 
wliere now stands our thiMving village. lie thanked llie 
present inliabitants for their Aveieome to the old i)ioneers* 
and tlien welcomed the pioneers to so hap[)y a meeting. 
In a very vivid manner, he described the situation of the 
tirst settlers, as compared with tlie present generation, lie 
beautifully pictured the Journey of the settler, with his iiim- 
ily, from the far East; the great hardsliips and privations 
in w^andering- through the woods, to the far West ; the con 
struction of the rnde loii' cal)in ; the labor of fellinsf the 
trees; the tedious way of tilling the soil; and the infinite 
number of discouragements, which vexed and harassed onr 
lathers. J>nt tlie "old folks"' were not Avithout their g^ood 
times: the husking-bee, tlie raising, and the general train- 
ing,^A\'ere as much enjoyed as the genteel })arty, the ball, 
and great displays of to-day. 

After the Address, each one' seemed to e<iually enjoy the 
lunch, Avhich Avas served from overflowing baskets, at the 
hands of the generous citizens. Many curious and anti- 
(juated specimens of the art of our grandfathers Avere dis- 
])layed, and a feAT very interesting letters AA^ere read from 
old friends of the pioneers, Avho could not be Avith them. 

Thus closed the exercises of the day. AV^e are sure no 
one Avill regret liaA-ing witnesssed so pleasant and enter- 
taining an att'air. 



WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 2o 

From the Beacon of Saturday. May 30. 
As a fitting- uddciKluin to the lirst day's pioceedinge. as 
g;iven in our Friday's issue, it is proper to mention^ that on 
Thursday evening, the spacious parlors of E. G. Loomi.s, 
Esq., on South Main street, were, on invitation, filled by 
both visiting and resident pioneers, and their friends, wlio 
in social converse, singing of ancient tunes, &c.; made up 
one of the pleasantest parties ever lield in Wadsworth. 

This forenoon (Friday) was spent in visiting old acquaint- 
a-uces, and the various: points of interest in the vicinity. In 
the afternoon, according to previous announcement, the old 
people again came together in the ?^Lethodist Ohun-h, at 3 
o'clock, for the purpose of relating and hearing reminis- 
cences of pioneer life, and of having a good time generally. 
On motion. Sherman Hlo--k.'r. Ksq.. was called to the 
chair, wlio after stating the ohji't't^i of the meeting, and 
thanking the audience for the honor as well as the pleasure 
conferred u})on him by selecting him to ])reside over it> 
<.alled upon Rev. W. McCUoud. ol (>i"anger. to lead olT, and 
most nobly did the "old man elo([uent" respojid to tlie call- 
Father ]*fc( Uoiul is 75 years of age. For many years, he 
had been praying to get to a iieticr iaiid. though this was a 
protty good land alter all. Forty years ago he had attend- 
ed a quarterly meeting in this wvy house, though then it 
Avas m an unfinished condition, without either i)ulpit or 
scats. Fifty-live years ago last winter, he had settled in 
(tramrer, having' h'ft his fatlier's house with but a single 
dollar in his pocket, thus literally beginning life in his new 
home "without money and without friends." I'ut acting 
on the parting advice giv^-n hini hy a godly neighbor. 
" Mind at all times to behave yotirself well," lie had endeav- 
ored to be a good boy. Jocularly remarking. ''•perhai)s you 
see it in me now — nearly a hundred years old." Allmling 
to the socialties of pioneer "ife. the speaker said that even 
now, old as he was. he would detirly love to raise a colony 
'An(\ "ii-o AVest," When about leaving home, hi- u'if<' a-«kc(l 



26 WADSWOKTH MEMOKIAL. 

hjm where lie was goiii{^'. Netokl Jicr he was going to 
Waclsworth, to tlie pioneer uKseting. "Yes, to be a child 
again," said slie. He believed in being yonng — felt that it 
was ''good to be here," and to live over again the scenes of 
the past — that lie had in so large a degree retained his youth- 
ful viijfor bv liard work, retirin<i' aud rising early, and total- 
ly abstaining from intoxicating liquors, tobacco, tea, coffee, 
and other exciting stiinulants. The spt^aker closed his 
remarks by asserting his belief tlial lie should never die — 
though the body might perisli. the nobler part would live 
forever — and fervently prayed that all ])resent might meet 
him on the other side of the river. 

Deacon ]V. B. Northroj). of iMediua. (S;{ years old, was the 
next s})eaker. Came to Medina, with his father's family, in 
I81G. Aftei' providing a cabin for liis family, tilled with- 
"Love to (rod. and charity for all mankind," a meeting- 
house was projected. On the moniiug of April lOth. ISlti 
about 25 or 80 men and boys assembled with oxen and 
l)roper implements, on the ground selected tor the etlilice? 
j\*ev. Searles having sent them word that he would be with 
them to preach at 4 o'clock that aiternoon. ^Setting to work 
with a will, the ground was cleared, the logs were c\it and 
titted. the walls were reared, the lloor Avas laid, the roof 
was shingled, the scats were pre]jarcd. and the sermon was 
preached Jil the time ai)i)oint(Ml. Other interesting church 
reminiscences were related, indicative of the great good 
that had been accomplished through those instrumentalities. 
in shaping the morals of the community. 

After a recess of fifttH'U minutes. (.len. I >. Northrop, 80 
years old (brother of the deacon), of .Mentor. Lake county, 
was called to the staiul. The General, after alluding to 
the fact that he had represented Medina county in the State 
Legislature from LSol to 1838, expressed a just pride in 
• having cnt tlown the tirst tree, in 1810, on the spot where 
tin; village of Medina noM' stands, lie then supposed that 
location was about the center of the woi'ld. and tliat Medi- 



w A Dswotrni MEMoiii A r., 27 

h;l was to be the to^vii of tiic Uuckovo fStati'. 'I'hough his 
•Marge expectations '■ had not, perhaps, all been realized 
yet the changes that, had taken place were truly marvelous. 
The speaker gave an anuising account of the tirst wedding 
in the township — that of his sister — at which every person 
then living in the township was present, except one — an 
old lady, who had the rlicurnatism so bad that she could 
not come. The refreshments consisted of "white" and 
-'black" cake, ajid whiskey-sliug stirred up with a pud- 
ding-stick ; the merriment being so intense that the guests 
did not light their torches to go home until o o'clock in 
the morni)ig. ]\I.edina countv was organized in 1818, and 
the first court, held in a barn, was presided over by Judge 
Tod (father of the late (Governor Tod), with Judge Brown, 
of AYadsworth, Judge Harris, of Harrisville, and Judge 
W'elton. of Richlield, as associates. At this term of the 
court, there were no cases, and no lawyers, and in the rather 
'• festive ■' ceremonies, described by the speaker, which took 
place dui-ing the night, after the court had adjourned, the 
presiding Judge, on being addressed as "Judge Tod," 
exclaimed, -'Don't call me Judge Tod — 1 am (rcorge Tod, 
until 10 o'clock tomorrow morning."' 

Rev. M. K. Hard, of Wooster, born in Wadsworth, in 
1818, inquircnl if anyone knew who was the first child born 
in the township, ami was answered that Alonzo Durham 
was born in July. 1814, !ind was still living, in the State of 
Indiana. • 

Mr. (xoorge Miller, of Akron, formerly of Wadswortli 
related some incidents connected with the early "jury sys- 
tem " of the county ; how many of the jurymen had to take 
their provisions with them, and that one man — a Mr. Par- 
sons, of Chatham — on being sumnioned as a juror, took his 
cow along with him, and kept her there during the term. 

Hon. Myron C. Hills, of Medina, was the next speaker. 
Referring to the length of time required to perform the 
journey from Connecticut to Ohio in 1818. when he settled 



28 W ADSWOKTII MKMORlAf.. 

iu Gnui^ci'. he >aid that a certain man who thon predictod 
tliat within hfty years, such improvements would be made 
in the uiO(h^ of travel that the journey could be accom- 
plished in a \vo(»k, was regarded as a visionary, and almast 
a fool. Xo\\ it could beaccompli.-<hed in a single day. The 
old times wore good times — no caste — all sociable, all hap- 
py. I^iit there's a great deal of good in human nature — 
as much so now as then — hut it takes adversity to bring it 
out. ]\£r. Hills closed by inviting all present to attend the 
meeting of the Pioneer Society of Medina and Summit 
counties, ol' which he is President, on the lOth of Septem- 
ber next. 

llev. Warner, of Seville, though not a pioneer himself, 
was the son and grandson of pioneers, and in a brief but 
eloquent ad<lress, paid a glowing tribute to the pioneers of 
the country, and called upon the present and rising gener- 
ations to cherish their memory, and emulate their virtues. 

Mrs. Ilobart, of Cleveland, stated that she had receutly 
called upon Rev. Josepli II. Breck, who j^reached in Wads- 
worth in 1824, now living in Cleveland, who wished to bf' 
remembered to his old acquaintances present. 

Aaron Pardee stated that he had received letters irom 
Almon and Philander Green. Ira Sprague, of Iowa, Mr 
Fay, of Columbus, Eugene Pardee, and others, which there 
was not time to read, but wliich would bf published in the 
l>ook about to be issued. 

T{ev. Edward Brown^ of Minnesota, made some feeling 
and interesting remarks in relation to his father, the late 
.ludge Brown. 

Brief remarks wim-c made l)y I'resideut Blocker, Capf 
Lyman (84 years old), A. Mc(rre,gor, of Canton, and others' 
when, under the lead of Gen, N'orthroj), as chorister, with 
Miss Jennie Hard at the organ, the entire audience joined 
in singing Coronation and Old Hundred, closing with the 
Doxology, Rev, Edward Brown pronouncing the benedic- 
tion. 



WADSWuKTli: MKMOUrAL. 29 

TVm- meeting- closed with tlio very best feeling', about half 
]vdsi live o'clociv. Dr. Lyuian extending an invitation to uU 
present to attend a sociable at his house in the evening. 

On Friday evening, pioneers and citizens, to the niuiiber 
of over 500, assembled at the house of Dr. Lyman, under 
the command of Gen. Northrop, of Lake county, an.lwcre 
marshalled according to their ages, in military line, in i\ 
"Tand review column, when choice niusie was furnished by 
the excellent band of AVads worth, after which the multi- 
tude entered the spacious rooms of the house, and devoted 
Cbemf^elves to enjoyment, such as was probably never be- 
fore had by any assembly lu the whole county. In the 
' multitude were the oldest surviving pioneers of Wadsworth 
and Medina county, and children and grandchildren and 
great-grandchildren were all mingled together, recounting 
jKrencs in the history of Medina county, and "Wadsworth 
towuHhip, that embraced its history from LSU down to 
1^0. It is impossible to enter into details of the re-union. 
Oapt. Lyman acted as host of the house, and he liad the 
rare good fortune of looking at friends and acqaintances, 
reaching from 18H) down to the present date. 

Gen. Xortlirop organized the ohhi- monibors of the 
throng into a singing class, and with himself as leader and 
chorister, had all ages, down to about forty years, as sing- 
ers. They sang ancient tunes, in an old-fashioned manner^ 
And I will* venture that no better time was ever had by an\^ 
company than ;it that old-time singing school. Such a 
rc!-union, witli <o niucli piety and hilarity, interspersed 
with anecdotes of three-score years, will pi-obal)]\' never 
be agrain held in the historv of the Srate. 

After hearty enjoyment until near midnight, the compa- 
ny sang "John Brown's soul is marching on,*' and separa- 
ted, never to meet again in a similar meeting on this earth. 
Saturday was spent in visiting public and private plnces, 
and in renewing old memories and scenes of pioneer life in 
i)ae township and vicinity. 



30 \VAl)S\VOHTll MKMOIUM.. 

In tlu" oveniiig', •<» rocc])tioii nus lidil ;it Ksq. Kvles* hous(«, 
whore another good time wns liad in a young folk?;' con- 
oert, of the singers of to-day. 

On Snnday forenoon. Kev. Edward lirown ch'Iivered a 
memorial sermon, in the grove, to a vast throng. Here ihv 
good-by's were said, and many of tlie pioneers mingled 
their last tears together in one tinal embrace. It was a 
solemn time — enougli to melt \\n' most obdnrate heart. 

In the afternoon, an old-fashioned Deaeons' meeting was 
held in the Congregational Ohureh, presided over by that 
venerable man, ( -apt. (ieorge Lyman, who is tlie only sur- 
viving member left of its organization in 18U». 

Here the programme closed, and a Jl/ial separation took 
ph\cc of the pioneers of W'adswortli, sonu; of whom have 
to travel neai-ly a thonsand juiles to reach tlieir present 
homes. Many things more miglit l)e ssiid of this memorable 
meeting, bnt your correspondent must content himself 
with a simple narration of facts, and leave others to gar- 
nish the event in a more detailed account. ^^ * * 

To the above sketches from the periodical Journals, the 
following incidents may be added : 

The oldest person present was Mrs. Mary Jacobs, one of 
the first settlers of Norton, who had survived three succes- 
sive husbands, all pioneer settlers; Nathan Bates, Jothani 
IMakeslee, and John Jacobs. The next. \Vm. Allen, of 
Akron, aged 8(5. Among tlic ladies on the stand, Avere INfrs 
Benjamin Tyler, aged 81, Mrs. I.odema Loonns, who taught 
school in the township, in 1819, and .Mrs. ('ahow. of one of 
the tlrst fannlies that settled in the townshij) of Norton, in 
1812, and Mrs. Mary Basor, the lirst white woman married 
in the township. Among the guests not nn>ntioned in the 
foregoing notices, were Morris Northrop, Esq., ('apt. Aus- 
tin Badger, Hon. H. G. Blake, "\Vni. i\ Clark, and :Martin 
Snell, of ]\[edina; Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Loomis, of Mentor; 
Mrs. Ann F. Russell, and Mrs. Eliza Porter, of Cleveland; 
Mr. and Mrs. .1. H. (Inntsie, Mr. and Mrs. M. AV. Henry. 



WADSWORTir MEMORIAL. 31 

Mr. and ^iv^. George Weeks, S. A. Lane. B. F. Battles, 
Edward Brovii, Mrs. S. Blocker. INlrs. Aliiion Brown, Mrs. 
J. P. Bowe, of Akron: Dr. A. W'illey, of Spencer; Dr. 
Aurelius A«^ard. of Sandusky : Mrs. Ennly Eastman, Mr. 
and Mrs. V. (•. Eastman. Uo\ . V . NToyes. Mrs. Noyes, A\- 
bert Munson, A. D. Licey, J. Jl. Ifec^e. .1. A. Jiell, of Guil- 
ford : Ilev. and Mrs. Eeonai'd Brown. I). ('. Clillbrd and 
wife. W'ellington : A. Curtis. Ashland: Arch. ]VleGreg"or. 
Canton: B. B. AVainer, Massillon ; Harry Pardee. North 
Hampton, Airs. Elenor l^irdee. Madison. Wis.: Mrs. Mi- 
jierva t'tley. Milwaukee. AVis. : Mr. I'hilo Kreneli. Beiea : 
Gurdon Ililliard, IJedford : Homer Jolrnson, Sharon ; jVLrs. 
Frances Hamlin. Weymouth : Christian Caekler, Kent; m,s 
well as many others, who did not report their names or 
attendance, who were amon^" the old pioneers of this por- 
tion of the State, or had been fornn^r residents. 

The attempt to organi/.e what is called an '*01<l Folks' 
(/'oncert"in the abundance of preparation liad been «riven up 
as impracticable, but \\as more than made up ])y the one 
improvised by (ien. Duthan Northrop — one ot the pio- 
neers of the county — once a noted singer, still in his eii^ht- 
ieth year, retaining his clear voice, and almost the vigor of 
middle ag"e. Collecting' the old singers of from 40 to 80 
years of ag'e in a circle, in the large parlor, he stood in the 
center, with tlie sanu' tall, erect, commanding' ligure that fur- 
tv vears ago singled him out even to the strauii'er as a leader 
of men. beating time in the old style, leading olf in the old 
fugues, enlivening the \\ hole with his j)leasaj)t sallies, and 
happy hits. Having set old Sherbern on too high a ke> • 
to the renuirk. •• (rcneral. you'll liave to come down." he 
re])lied, '• No. llu' Gen( ral never comes down; however,^ 
we'll j)ut the tune a little lowi'r." At the close, a liearty 
vote of thanks \Aas given tc) General Northroi). foi' having 
afforded to the j}resent generation n reed Old Folks" ('ou- 
cert. 

But to those \>ho could rcnjeujber the old Deacons' meet- 



32 WADST^ORTH MEMORIAL. 

iiigs. 60 long kept, up twice each Sabbath, in the old log 
&choolhoiises by those old pioiieer.'j of WndMworth's relijj- 
3011S history, Frederick Brown, Ebenezer Aiidrim, William 
Graham. Benjamin Agard. George Ia man, and Sherman 
Loom is. no part of the proeeedinirs stirred up the deep 
fountains of emotion as did the reeallin*;' of those f^cencs 
once more in tlieir lives, at the Deacons' meeting;, held in 
^he Congreg'ational Church, cm the Sabbath afternoon, con- 
ducted bv (xeorsf-e Lvman. bv more than 20 vears th«' last 
fcurvivor of tliat band, l^im-^elf 81 years old 

Readin<>' a cha))ter in tlie Ilibh', as in the oUlen time, and 
j;iving" out the hymns, without ulasscs. in the second sight 
of extreme ohl age. he htmded the volume of sermons — 
])rinted in 1797 — that \n a>^ lirst \i<v(\ in those days, to Mr. 
E. G. TiOomis — whose father, with liis sonorous voice 
and rhetorical delivei\v. was most often called upon to read 
— and desired him to read ;i <ermon. from ^latthew 5: lo, 
by Bev. Ab'xander Gillett, of Torrington. Ct. — his old pas- 
loi- — '"to whom." said the old pntriarrh. "more than sixty 
_\ ears ago. 1 ^youi two miles in tln' night s«'ason. to ask? 
'What shall 1 do to be saved?'" 

As the reader, often choking with ciuotion. read tljf dis- 
course, and the audience, mostly of aged men and women 
could recall the voice of th(> father in that of the son, the 
buried momories of half a century c;tine up as living reali- 
ities, and the dead and tlie living seemed once more met 
together in soleinn w orship, till each seemed to feel, like 
him Avliose Aision connected heaven and earth, "How 
dreadful i< this jdacel this is none other but the house of 
(«od. and this is the gate of heaven." It was an hour of 
solemn stilbiess. silent tears falling, or deep emotion break- 
ing forth in the audible sob, as each recalled tlie pleasing 
and sad remembrances of other years, and felt that this was 
indeed the last re\ival of iheir li\es* tenderest memories. 



iTADsiiroRTir mzmokial. 



SONG OF WKLCOME. 
By Mre. Slauhope, of SoTiUr. 

[Air, " Bmcc':* Addres.^.'*] 
Wckome, welcome, Pioneers, 
To your home of Pixty yeans! 
Whom hftil we with ench .Kflad (.■hccrfs 

As ?.he Pionecr8"r 
€omc yc all, fi-om hall or cot. 
Where'er fate hath cast your lot, 
AJid let ht-iition be forgot, 

To welcome rioneer^: 

Let Bu i-jLukH Ottr cheer divide: 
J>et our greeting: spread no wide. 
It may reach the ocean's tide. 

To welcome Pioneers I 
Gather in, ye welcome band:? I 
■Rhosc bruTC hearts and willing hands, 
Made for uh the^c bcanteoiiK lands; 
Worthy Pioneern! 

Tho' no pride, or courtly grace 
Mark ye for a kingly race. 
Who Hhould have a higher place 

Than the I'ioneere-' 
Ye Avho toiled through joyt< and wpc«, 
Te who raa<le. with heavy bloAvs, 
Wilds to bloshciui as the rose — 

Noble Pioneer.s! 

Ye shall be our boa^it and pride. 
Ye, the friends ^^o tni e and tried, 
Ye shall have a welcome wide, 

Honored I'ioneerai 
Welcome, Pioneerif, again! 
Min8trel8, sing a lofty fltrain; 
N'illage, woodland, vale, and plain— 

W e 1 come, I* ionccr* I 



wadswokth memorial, 
recollections of an old bettler. 

Kead at the Pioneer Meeting in Wudtsworth, May 28th, 1874, by Benja- 
min Deau, of Blairstown, luwa. 

On the first day of March, 1814, Oliver Durham and the 
writer, Benjamin Deau, went seven miles into the w^ilder- 
ness, and made the first beginning in Wadswortli. 

My father, Daniel Dean, and my brother Daniel, came 
two days later. We built a camp, or shelter, by sticking 
crotches and laying a pole on them, then cut and split 
planks, or puncheons, and placed them with one end on the 
pole, and the other on the ground. At night, we built a 
large fire in front of our camp, and wa'apped ourselves in 
blankets, and lay there with our feet to the iire. The 
wolves howled about us nearly all night, but did not come 
within sight. Sometimes they would get still, but if we 
would make a little noise or increase our fire a little, they 
would give us more music. At one time I rapped on a 
dry tree, and they yelled at the top of their voices. We 
soon found that they had a line of travel from Wolf Creek 
to the Chippewa, and that they iDassed us every alternate 
night, following the road, until the settlement became so 
large that they went around il. But they always, in pass- 
ing, saluted us with a specimen of their music. 

We cut and drew the logs foi* iny father's house, 18 by 18^ 

and for Mr. Durham's, IG by 18 feet. We had our oAvn 

help, my father, Mr. Durham, my brother, 14 years, and 

myself, 16 years old ; the rest of our help, seven men, came 

seven miles. They were Basley Cahow, Jacob Vanhyning 

(with but one arm), Indian Holmes, Theodore Parmelee. 

George Hethman, James and George Cahow, and with this 

help we raised both houses in one day. We got a roof on 

my tather's house, and all moved into it on the 17th day of 

March. 
At tliattime there were but eiglit dwelling-houses between 

us and Tallmadge ]Mills — afterwards called Middleburv — 

wiiich was thirteeen miles distant from our settlement ; 

they were those of Jaekey CahoAv, Theodore Parmelee, 



WADSWOr^Til MEMORIAL. 35 

Indian Holmes (these all lived where Parinelee after- 
wards built his brick house), Pliny Wilcox — who lived near 
the foot of the hill, Vviiere Mr. Perkins afterwards built his 
stone house. Paul Williams and his son Barney — aftei*- 
wards called Colonel Williams — lived on the hill beyond 
where Akron now stands, and betwixt there and the Mills, 
we passed Major Spicer, and Mr. Hasen. (The above was 
written in Iowa; I have learned since I came here, to my 
astonishment, that the town of Akron now not only takes 
in the Williams farms, but also Major Spicer's, and the 
whole of ]\Iiddlebury). But to return ; the sawmill, and 
Hie gristmill, made of hewed log's, and three log houses, 
were all that could be seen where JNIiddlebury now stands. 
There was a log house, and some land cleared, where old 
' Squire 'Henry \";inhyning afterwards lived on Wolf Creek, 
and he moved in elune, 1814. 

There were at that time in the territory afterwards 
formed into Medina county, including" Xorton, Copley, 
Bath, and Richfield, in the 12th range, only twenty fam- 
ilies, viz. : five in Xorton, three in Ilarrisville, five in Liv- 
erpool, two in Bath, and five in Pichfield. My mother 
saw no woman but Mrs. Durham until August, and Mrs. 
Durham saw no woman but Mrs. Dean until October, dur- 
ing which time she gave bii-th to a son, the first born in 
the township. He was called Alonzo ; was born in 'Tuly, 
ISU. 

The first store in Middlel)ury was opened in July, 1814 
in a room of Judge Norton's house, by Peleg Mason. In 
1815, lie and his brother built a small store-house, and other 
merchants soon came in.. It will be remembered that this 
was during the war called the war of 1812, and provisions 
were closely bought uj) for the army. 

Before harvest, wheat was worth $3 a bushel, flour $17 a 
barrel, and pork could not be bought at any price. To my 
knowledge, salt, which had to be brought up in wagons, 
on account of the British fleet on the lakes, was WCU'lb |20 



? 



36 VfADsNTORTH MKMORlAL. 

per barrel hi Clevolaud. oi- iibout ten cents a pound. Yon 
may well conclude that these were pretty hard times. 

The early settlers of Wads worth were from the East, and 
ha<l been accustomed to form labor. They were a hardy, 
indnstrious class of people, and were very economical. 
Their moral character wa,s j<ood, and they were mostly 
religious. But very few of them had money to pay for 
their land, and l\ad to buy on credit. Some of them had 
hard work to support their families till they could raiijc a 
crop on their own lands. A very few had money to pay 
for improvements, atter payinj^ for their land, and this 
helped the poorer class, as it enabled them to get employ- 
ment in helpino- to clear land. 

It cost much labor to clear up the land, as the timber was 
very heavy. This, with their land debts, kept the people 
embarrassed for a good many yeai*s ; but they lived togeth- 
er in peace and harmony. Their general intelligence and 
literature would compare favorably with the farmers of 
this day. 

At that time there wu;* no school la^v in the State; and 
where they got inhabitants enough together, they built 
schoolhouses by neighborly liberality, and employed tea-eh- 
ers at their own option. Each had to pay in proportion to 
the number of days he sent to school. 

Wc had good schools in those days, and the best society 
\ ever was in. I often think of the meetings wc had in 
tlie old log schoolhou-'f.'. mostly by reading sermons, and 
siometimes a missionary would come and preach to us. 

The land in AVads^sorth is mostly, as you know, high sad 
rolling. The land in the Korthern part of the township us 
&aid to be as high a.s any in the St4)te. It is certainly as 
healthful, and naturally as good for fruit, as any in Ohie>. 

In 182tS, we swapped farms with Steward Kichards ; w^ 
took his land, where William J'Veeborn now lives, and he 
took that upon which we first settled ; being what Is now 
called the Duly Farm, of Western Star. Our orchard on 



WAI>eWOB'lH ^iKMOlMAL. 87 



the locatiou, bewail to bear in i^'U ; and fro in that time un- 
til 1864, when I left Wadsworth for Iowa, where T now 
reside, the apples were never killed but once. We had a 
lYo^t in 18M, that killed all the applos in the State. 

In the beginning, onr land Avas cleared by girdling such 
of the large timber as would kill easily, and a good deal of 
that timber was permitted to stand till it wonld fall down 
and rot ; doubtless a good deal of sickness was caused in 

this way. 

Before we moved to Wadsworth, the old east and west 
center road had been partially opened. Men owning land 
in Western townships endeavored to have the road, to en- 
courage settlements. The road was first located, by an 
order from Trumbull county. This was when all this 
county, and still west of us, was part of Trumbull county, 
C-aptoin Bela Hubbard, of Randolph, was the surveyor, 
flud Esq. David Hudson, of Hudson, Gen. Campbell, of 
Kavenna, and Esq. Day, of Deertleld, were the exploring 
coiumittee. Esq. Day afterwards had the job of opening 
the road. T think this was in the year 1808. 

In 1810, after Portage county was organized (inchuling 
what is now Medina county), and Owen Brown, of Hud- 
son, was one of iha county Commissioners, another appro- 
priation was made, and Capt. Hubbard was employed to 
make more bridges, and other improvements. 

The fiurveving partv above referred to. named tlie 
streams in this vicinity. They named Wolf Creek, in con- 
sequence of tinding the carcass of a deer on its banks, that 
hAd been killed by wolves ; and when they passed Hudson's 
run, Esq. Hudson mimed it by cutting his name on a beach- 
tree. All the rest of the party chose streams, and record- 
ed them in the same way : but when they came to River 
Biyx, and Chippewa, they gave them other names, no one 
preferring to leave his name for eitlier of them. This 
statement I had from Capt. Hubbard, in 18U, and after- 
W»4-d« ii-om Esq. Hudson. Bexja:>iix Dea^% 



38 WADSWORTH MKMOKIAL. 

ADDRESS OF REV. j:DWARD BROWN. 

The occasion on which wc have asscmblod to-day, is one 

of those rare ones, which from their very natnre can occnr 

but once in a generation. AVe come in obedience to an 

instinct of our natnre, that leads ns to associate events 

that make np the pleasant or tlie sad memories of past 

years with tlie ])laces where they occurred. That hoAvever 

far we may liave w^andered over earth's snrface, however 

familiar its trrandest or most enchanting" scenery may have 

become, the thoughts wander back again to the scenes of 

childhood and youth, which memory envelopes with a 

transparent halo, beauteons as the rainbow, that childish 

fancy held the depository of gems and gold ; those memoi-ies 

of the ])ast. rising up with new freshness as the grosser 

senses fail, and the spirit begins to peer through the riveu 

chinks of the crumbling tenement, to catch glimpses of the 

worlds beyond. 

As travelers in the Arctic highlands have described 

Ihc rare view, taken on the return of that day of the year 
when the day and the niglit exactly meet: wiien standing 
on an eminence to Avatch the declining sun as it dips to the 
horizon, its disa])pearing half at the same moment appear- 
ing like a newly risen snn in the east; so as life declines, 
memory blends the bright rays of its morning snn with 
the somber hues of its setting beams. 

Xo memories are so deeply impressed upon the soul as 
tirst jnemorics, first joys and sorrows, first hopes, first 
loves, and first aspirations. They return in day reveries, 
and night dreams, and are discernetl in the mutterings of 
second childhood, when the child is mistaken for the 
In'othor, and the middle-ijiged neighbor for the father's 
associate, long since like him passed away. 

Except, then, in the rare cases wiiere an early blight has 
withered the life, there can be no spot on earth so sweet 
as childhood's first home, or next to it, the scenes wdiere 
our first loA'es were lonned, and our tirst manly hopes 



WADSWORTII ME3I0RIAL. 39 

blossoiiiecl. Though rucky. or ruj2,g-ed, or imsightlj, or 
even a desert where we wouUl scaree desire to dwell, ^Ull 
it becomes to us holy i,a'onnd. 

'•Breathes there the man with .soul mi tleatU 
That never to hiuisell' hath >aid, 
This is my own, my native land— 
Whose heart hath ne'er within hijii burned. 
As home his footsteps he hath turned 
From wandring ou a foreign strand?" 

Drawn together by a common feeling-, we meet for a 
short re-union, to many of ns the last one on this side the 
mystieal river; to dwell for a brief day in the past ; to try 
to catch another glimpse of the joys of which we tlien, 
amid the busy cares of life, were scarcely conscious; for it 
is human, in our eager grasping at the future, to forget the 
present pleasures, so that 

'■Joy's fleeting angel scarce sheds a glad ray. 
Save the gleam of the j)lumagc that bears him away." 

By a united etfort to reverse the cars of time, and bring- 
back before us the long train of three-score years. 

Threescore years! To A'outhful imagination an age! To 
senile memory a day ! Almost the average lifetime of two 
generations. What changes have, during this period, taken 
place in the earth's historv ! 8ixtv memorable vears ! Be- 
ginning ere yet the " great fire canoe '' had begun to terrify 
the savages upon the shores of Lake Erie and tlie Ohio ; 
ere yet the bison and the moose had fled before the soimd 
of the woodman's ax; Avhen canals were only talked of as 
a future possibility ; Avhen the railroad was only a tram- 
track, and the *' iron horse " a '• donkey engine " in an English 
coal mine ; when the "wild, virgin stream, with its si)angled 
w^aterfall, like a coy maiden, was liard to be Avooed and 
won, to submit to tlu; drudgery of turning the wheel, to 
card, si)in, and weave ; when the carxjeuter, witli his pod- 
augei', found his daily task a tiresome '•6o?"e,"and drove 
the *• wrou<>-lit nail "with a hunnner forged bv his neigh- 
bor, "the viUage blacksmith,'" who, like Tubal Cain, wa.-; 
*-an instrutcor of ev(M*v artiticer in brass and iron." When 



40 WADSWOKTH MEMORIAL. 

the farmer, in early 8priug-, j;ot out Iiis own ploiigh-hajfi- 
tlleS; from the trimk and rootn of an ash, and hewed hi* 
wooden mould-hoard from a ])un('htion split from a wind- 
ing" beach ; when the young- ladies' music lesson wa,« tb<> 
monotonous bumble of the Hpiiuiing-wheel, and "cards" 
were played without a partner, over "check tow-and-wool '* 
apron; when the joyous shout of the com-husking, on th« 
floor of the log barn Avas hearth under "the beams of the 
fuU-orbcd hunters' moon," in October; when true loves, 
sincere if not romantic, were stealthily breathed while iht 
industrious needles were plied at the rustic quilting party ; 
and when in the merry-making winter season, the lads and 
lasses entered with a hearty zest into the sleigh-ride, not in 
a splendid rig from the livery, but in a "Canadian pjdudo," 
made of bent hickorx poles, surmounted by a rough box, 
or crockery-crate. 

Sixty years I What a weight of memories they lay upon 
the mind of the aged, as we attemi)t to recall their histo- 
ry. As when the captives of old returned and laid tlie 
iomidatious of their new tem|)le, while the younger part 
shouted for joy, the old men who had seen the first temple 
wept — so this occasion is necessarily one of mingled joy 
and sorrow, -lo}' to all for tlie past and present prosper- 
ity and the future prospects of one of the fairest portions 
of our favored land, and of sadness to the then stalwart 
})ioneer, noAV the patriarch, " leaning upon his statf for very 
age" — Avho has almost outlived a geiuu-ation : AA^ho can 
count the names of far more of those Avho with him 
opened tliese roads, and subdued the primeval forcstB, up- 
on the Avhite tablets of yondei- cenu^tery, than he can find 
among the living; who sees Avith joy, an intelligent and 
enteri) rising generation entering into his labors, yet be- 
comes himself more and more a stranger Avhere he 
was once a leader. -Only Avaiting,'' now, like Aaron, for 
the summons to asceiul llie mount, lay his robes upon hie 
sojj, and be gathered to his people, not sadly — for he leaver 



WADS WORTH MEMOKIAL. 41 

a work that is euduring, and n memory that is fragrant. 

Why, then, even desire to linger ? For, a* one of our 

poets describes this " last leaf," 

"The mossy marbles jest 

On the lips thai ho. lias prcs&cd, 

lu their bloom; 
And the uames he loved to hoar 
Have bc«n carved for many a year. 

On the (oinb." 

And yet, it U sweet to stay a little longer, and ^ee the 
maturing fruits froili our planting. To trace the windings 
of the stream of blessings, widening its course, that flows 
from the rock we smote in tiie wildernesB, and be able to 
say, How small, indeed, wa,s ours, the human part of the 
miracle of progress ! Oidy a feeble blow of a staff upon a 
rvTgged rock ; but, -'Behold what hath God wrought I" 

(Jlicer uj), tlu-n, t^rnall but to-day honored band of 
fathoTB. In the future annals of the town, and country 
around, your names can not be forgotten. In behalf of the 
former residents and old pioneers, wlio have come to greet 
each other on this occasion, some of us from far distant 
Slates, let me express the gratitude w^c feel to the present, 
inhabitants of AV"ad?<worth, for the honor they have shown 
u«, and the labor, eelf-f^acrilicc, and expenditure they have 
bestowed, to make this occasion one worthy of themselves, 
and a fitting tribute to the departed worthies, and their 
surviving cohorts of the ** heroic age," when "a man was 
famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick 
trees.'' An opportunity afforded to perpetuate the recol- 
lection of the hardships, the toils and labors, it cost to clear 
off those massive forests, to open these roads, to develop 
these resources of wealth, to found in an humble way these 
^^chools and churches, and make this a desirable abode; 
one of the bright gems in the crown of the queenly State 
of Ohio. Nor can 1 refrain from expressing my individual 
thanks for the honor you have conferred upon me, in 
inviting me from my far off prairie home, to stand beneath 



42 A\^\J)S\V()KTJI MEMOKIAL. 

these trees, where, half a century ago. I bnskcrl in their 
shade at noonday, slaked niy thirst from }onder sjjrin^'', or 
Avitli luy boy com j)an ions, with bows and arrows, and 
painte<l wooden tonnihawks. ])hn-ed llic Indian in llicse 
woods, or chased tlie s(inirrel up tlie tall clicstnut, to sco'd 
back at us from his safe retreat — to tell the story of the 
j^ef dement lliat was bci^un with the same vear in which my 
life l>egan, and recall tlie incidents witli which I was once 
so well ar(|uainted, or in wliich 1 bore a part. J proj)osc. 
then, without further preliminary, to Initer into a brief 
Iiistory of the llrst sotth^ment of the town, and some of the 
prominent incidents of its earliest vears. Mv knowl- 
edge, g'ained by personal conversations, my own recollec- 
tions, dating' from a few years subse(|ucnt, and from 
)>reviously published documents. 

FinST KOOTl'lMNTS OF WHrrE .MKX. 

The earliest record of the visit of any Avhite men lo the 
fownship of Wadswovth was, till iSoL to be seen in ohl 
letters, carved in tlie bark of a large beach-tree, on the west 
fKiuk of Holmes' Brook, near the north side of the road. 
The tree was cut down in straightening- the load, in l>^'.\i. 
On the north side of the tree, the letters grown Avide by its 
growth, but still legible,Jcould be seen this inscrix>tion : 

rillLIP AVAKD 1797 

TD 

U C 

AW 

AVho w^ere Philip AVard and his companion?, or for what 
purpose "they visited that locality, so far IVom civilized 
habitations, is unknown. Tlie dale is not far from the 
time when fSeth Tease, with his surve ving ])artv, em- 
ployed by the Connecticut Jjand Comi)an} , vixn the 
south line of the AVestern IJeserve.* 

*Jiu.lgc Am/A Atwatin-j lato ul Mautwii, in his uuio> i»ubU^hjtl abuiil- 10 



i) 



WADS WORTH MEMOtifAT-. 4' 

'J'ht' lirst white man who ever had a habitation m Wads- 
worth, w'as a former Indian irader, of Engli.sli hirth, from 
Montreal, by the name of John Ilohnes, who, marrying' 
among the Indians, lived among' them as a hunter and trap- 
per, and was known to the wdutc settlers as " Indian 
Holmes." The renniins ol his old cabin used to be pointed 
ont to me, near the brook that bears his name. But as he 
had in a great measure lapsed from civilization, had nevei- 
pui"ohased nor cultivated land, but lived the roving, un- 
settled life of an Indian, he is no more entitled to tlie name 
of first settler than the Aborigines themselves, and like 
tliem w^oidd have been forgotten, but for the accident of lii* 
mime having been given to the stream. 

The first setllers were the families of Daniel Dean, and 
Oliver Durham, emigrants from Vermont, one of whom, 
Benjamin Dean, the eldest son of ISLv. Dean, is permitted 
to join with us to-day. 

'J'he settlement w'as begun on the east line of tlie town- 
shi)). on the ground that is now a part of the village of 
AVestern Star. Their arrival was March 17th, 1811. The 
next family was that of Salmon Warner, Fel)ruarv, 1815. 

The iirst settlers of AVadsworth were pri)K-ix)ally trom 
three States; Yermoid, Connecticut, and Penusylrania, 
From Vermont were the Deans, O. Durham, and his broth- 
er Calvin (who wn*ote his name Dorwin), Ids latlier-in-law 
Salmon AVarner and sons, Beuben F., Salmon Jr., Dan- 
iel. Hoi-atio, Amos, M. D. ; (Elisha Durham, brother to (). 
and C, died on tlie w\ay from ^'ermont, and his w^idow^ 
daughter of Lysander Hard, married jSfr. Henry AVright) ; 
Lysauder Hard, and son Harlow, and stepsons, Davis and 

yoars aj^o, (ells uk tluit tlie i)arty wore oaiiipc<l for a eonsideralde time on 
the Mahouiiiji- River, auumi;- the^fassinnga Indians, a small remnant oi' 
the Six Nation."; lliat lindiii.t;- in g-reat nnni))ers the small, black llattle- 
snake. now called by naliiraliBts, Crotellus Kirtlandi— from Dr. -Tared P. 
Kirtland, who lirrst publislifd a desc-vlption of it— the men of hi» party 
named it the Massianga snake^ a name by which it is still known through- 
out the Mississippi Valley. 



44 WADSWOIITH MEMORIAL. 

Welles IJolcomb, and his brother, Abraham Ilurd, with his 
sons, Cyrus, Abraliani Jr., L. Nelson ; Jolin M., Peter, and 
Leavilt Weeks; Timothy S. and Harry Bennett (Abel. 
Stanton, and Elam Bennett came atterwards); W. II. 
Wright, and Milton Wright, and afterwards their father, 
Kbenezer AVright, and their brother Orris; SaraneJ M. 
Hay den, and Hiram C Kingsbury. 

or those From Connecticut, first, Orin Loomis, then hi* 
iather, Joseph Loomis, and his brother, Siierinan Loomis ; 
itenjamin Agard, and his sons, Alvin and Roman L. ; Fred- 
erick Brown and sons, Marcus, Jolui, and Edward ; AVni. 
IS., Harry, and Cullen Kicluirds, afterwards their fathev» 
Jedediah Richards, and his other sons, Jedediah, Milln, 
Robert IT., r>ekiel, Julius, and George, M. D. (part of 
these lived just over the line of Xorton); Augustus Mills 
and sons, Harry A., Luman T*., Fhilo P., William, and 
C Curtis: Allen Pardee, and afterwards his brothers, 
John, Ceo. K., Augustus, Aaron, and still later, Sheldon 
and Ebenezer, and brother-in-law, Phineas Butler; Nor- 
man and Cyrus Curtis, and afterwards their father, Cyrui^ 
Curtis, sr. The ]\lills's Curtis's and Pardee's, though from 
Norfolk, Ct., resided for a time in Marcellus, N. Y. 

From Torrington, Connecticut, came Ceorge LymaJi, 
(hirdon Hilliard, Hobert THlliard, Lemuel North, Abel 
Bcx^ch and his sons, George and Orlando; Elisha Hin8dal<* 
and his sons, Elisha, Sherman, and Albert. Prom Winsted 
c^me Philemon Kirknrn and his son, George Kirkum, just 
over the line, in Norlon. l''rom Hebron, Ct., Wm. Eyles. 

From Pennsylvania, Samuel Blocker and sons, David 
and Eli ; Jacob j^Iiller and sons, George and David; the 
Razors, George, Christopher, and William; old Mr. Ever- 
hard and sons, Jacob, John, Chrislian, and Jonathan ; Hen- 
ry, Christian, and Israel Ritter; Lawrence, Adam, and 
Paul Baughman, and sons, and Adam and Jax^^ob Smith ; 
Peter Waltz and sons, John and David: Joim Wise, and 
Jacob Wise : Nicholas Long, and John Lon^. 



WADSWORTJI MEMOHIAI.. 4^ 

From Marylaiul, James Giftoi-d, llcm-y l^alioiior, and 
Samuel Falconer. 

The west part of Wadsworth, along- the eeutcr road was, 
before it was cleared up, very swamp}, and bocanse of its 
dismal appearance, was named by Ibe surveyors, "The 
Infernal Kegions ;" and the slnogish stream that oozed 
through the swamps, was named ''River Styx," from t lie 
old mythological river of that name, 'i'hose swamps and 
River Styx Avere a great dread io travelers for many years. 
The old road was tilled wiih causeways, made of poles ; 
two of them, near River Styx, each about 40 rods long, and 
one over the Styx, on the ^ledina road, over 80 rods long. 
The late Judge Brown changed those causeways inlolurn- 
pikes, in 182G and 1828. 

The first house built and clearing made, on the grouiul 
where AV^adsworth village now stands, was that of Fred- 
erick Brown, in 181C. The nexi house west of this, at thai 
linie, was that of George Burr, of TIarrlsville, as the road 
then ran, fifteen miles. Passing Jlari-isville, going <lue 
west, the next settlement was at Upper Sandusky ; the next 
at Fort Wayne, Indiana, and no other to the Pacific Ocean. 

The roads were then but wagon -tracks, only the under- 
gTOWth cleared away. In this age of improvements, it 

may interest the present generation to recount the toils and 

privations then endured. 

The first settlers came just al the close of the war with 
GreAt Britian, called the y\i\r of 1812. From the Genesee 
River westward, the whole country wns new; mostly 
heavily timbered forest. The immigrnnt on liis way, 
lound not even a common turnpike road. The family of 
my father, Frederick Brown, accompanied by Sherman 
Loomis, were bix weeks on their Avay iVom Connecticut, 
with a three-horse team, and wagon. That of Elisha Hins- 
dale eight weeks. 

The immigrant who could not hew out a new axle or a 
new tongue for his wagon, from a forest tree, was often in 



46 \VAD<SW01t'l'H ME MO lit At.. 

a' sorry predicament. Goods for the country stores wvVi.- 
brought from Philadelpliia, over tlie Allegiianies, in what 
Avas known as a Conestoga wagon — a large veliicle, about" 
ilouble the size of a common wagon, with box about tiiree 
feci deep; the wlieels double-tired, to keep from sinking 
n tlie mud. The wagons were almost, invariably jiainled 
blue, and covered Avith canvass stretclied ni)on poles; a 
large tar-bucket, for lubrication, hanging below the hind 

axle. 

The team was usually of six. sometimes eigiit, large 
horses; the driver always riding the ueai* wheel hoi-se, 
earrving what was called a blacksnake whip, and driving 
the whole team with a single rein. lu m:dv'ing uj) the out- 
fit, one span Avas accouided necessary lo draw the wagon : 
tlie rest, the load. 

The Penusylvauia wagoners in those days, were a dis- 
tinct class, having their own peculiariiies. Hough. })ut 
lion est and brave. 

Our tinwai'e aud '• notiojis/' were usually brought to our 
doors by i)eddlen>., mostly from Connecticut, wlio Ijore an 
opposite character to tlie Pennsylvania teamsters. Far too 
many of them for the good name of their State, aud to the 
grief of the moral New England settlers of the Reserve, 
sleek, polished knaves — so that the houest yeomen from the 
coiiuties south of us, jmlging the race by its vagabonds 
(as was \'cry natural), when they cauie auiong us, were on 
the lookout lesl thev should ])e '-vaukeed" — a svnouvm 
tor swindled — and the horn gunflints and woo(b^n nutmeg,-^ 
that gave the sobriquet of "The .Nutmeg State '" (o Connec- 
ticut, ])assed eveu into song. 

Salt was lirst l)rought from Pi(ts))urg; aflerwards — 
about my lirst recollection — from a little village on the lake 
shore, called Clenrvelaud, which the Clerirveland Herald, in 
182'A (50 years ago), told us — contained 100 houses. Since 
then, it has lost a letter fioui its name, and added consid- 
erablv to the number of its houses. 



WAI>MVOI{TH MEMOKrAL. 47 

Mr. Deaii tells us of paying- ten «JtMil> pt'i- puiiiul for salt, 
hi 1814, and Mr. George Lyman '$11 per barrel in 1817- 
My father moving from Conneetieut in 1816— the memora- 
ble "cold summer "—if was exceedingly ditlicuU to llnd 
Jbod enough to subsist the family, upon the road ; often 
able to buy or beg only enough for the little ones, and 
retire fasting, to lind food on the road some time in the 
forenoon. AVheat, when it was to be had at all that year, 
was '$3 a bushel, and corn $2. The bear, the deer, and th« 
wild turkey, under the well-aimed ritles of Orin Loomis, 
David Blocker, and AVilliam ^inicox, l'urni«,hed the snpplies 
that kept the neighborhood from starvation. To that corps 
of hunters were afterwards added Thineas Butler, and 
Timothy Dascom. All these were "mighty hunters'"' in 
those days. 

In that year, tl udge Amzi Atwater, of Mantua, and Ja- 
son llammoml, of Bath, liaving a surplus of Avheat and 
corn, sold it at a reduced price, on credit, to those alone 
who had no money, bidding those who wanted to buy on 
speculation to go elsewhere; to their honor 1 record it. 

Our limited trading was done at Middlebury, until Mr- 
Porter opened a store at the cross roads, then called Ilitr- 
veystown, eight miles southeast of Wudsworth. They ad- 
vertised- that they would give a high price in goods fur 
dried ginseng root, and the woods were searched over, the 
next fall to tind the precious root, for there was money in 
it. My brother and 1 dug and dried enough to buy for 
each of us our first white cotton shirts, at the Ioav i)rice of 
only iifty cents per yard ; and the next Sundaj', you may 
]>elieve that "Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed 
like one of these." Do you think thai we wore any coats 
on that day and hid the white arms? ^Xo indeed ! Though 
late in October, it was too xcarm ; so we carried them on 
our arms. 

But tlie (hiy of high prices soon passed away, as the 
farms were cleared up ; and then came on the great linan- 



48 WA.DSWORTH MExMORIAL. 

cial pressure, with i(s low ])rices, before tlie opening of the 
Eric and tlic Ohio canals, when it was hardly poseiible to 
raise enough in Jiioiiey, fi'om their farm products, to pay 
taxes. I can remember when rye for distilling- brought a 
better price than wheat for bread. 'J'he lirst grinding was 
done at Norton's mill, — afterwards known as Tallmadge 
Yillagc, afterwards as MiddJebnry, now a part of Akron — 
and at AVetniore's mill, in Stow, a mile above Cuyahoga 
J'"'alls, and at Northampton Mills. 1 can well remeiiibcv 
when they used to put up at my father's house, going and 
i-efcurning from Middlcbury with their grist.s, from a-; far 
westas Sullivan. Huntington, and Wellington. Afterwards 
Rex's mill, east of New Portage, was built : then the uiill ko 
long owned l>y ( ioorgc Wellhouse, in Ciiippewa. The tirKt 
uiill built in Wadsworth was a log mill, built by Luther 
llemmingway, on the Medina road; the water carried in 
a log tlume from a spring brook. The next by A. and J. 
l*artlee (now ^'oder's mill). 

Owing to the distance from sawmills, our floors were 
made ot "puncheons," or planks split from straight-grained 
chestnut timber, hewed with the broadax, and suiootbed 
with the ad/,, or ])lane. Tlie llrst sawmill built, wa« the 
one that now slantls one-fourth of a mile west of the de- 
pot, by Joseph T^oomis, Sherman Loomis, Abel Beach, and 
George Beach, in J<S2(). The next by George Lyman, and 
Cyrus Curtis, on Holmes' Brook. But though to the honor 
of Wadsworth, it never had a distillery, amid all the de- 
privatioiis of that ])eriod, there Avas none of old rye whis- 
ky ; every family could have it, whether they liad a co\t 
or noi. Not that drunkards abounded; it Avas before the 
doctrine of lotal abstinence was known, and its temperate 
use (as it Avas then esteemed) w^as universal. Though a 
few v.cnt home iioi-y from military musters and, perhaps, 
one or two fi-om a barn raising, we stood above the aver- 
age of Western communities as a temperate people. 

I lieard Or. (i. K. Tardec, in a lecture, in 1833, describe 



TTADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 49 

a case of delirium tremens ; " the only one," he said, " I 
ever saw, aad I pray God 1 may never see another." 
AVhcre is the pliysician that can now say that, in this or 
any other community ? 

The early settlers had, most of them, an appreciation of 
the benefits to themselves and their children, of the school 
and the church. As soon as there were children enough 
to form a school, they had the school. 

The fii-st school was taught by Harriet AVarner, in a room 
of her father's double log house. Tire first log schoolhouse 
wa^s erected on the farm of Jacob Miller, at the cross roads, 
one mile and a half east of this village. The first school 
taught in this house was by Marcus Brown, son of Fi-edc- 
rick Brown. The second by his sister, Catherine Brown, 
afterwards Mrs. T. Hudson. About a year later, another 
house was put up, near the residence of the late Judge 
Wm. Eyles. The first school taught in this, was by Miss 
Lodema Sacket (now Mrs. Loomis), in 1819. Those houses 
were for many years known as the north and south school- 
houses. The first school at the Center (now Wads worth 
village), was in a log house owned by Frderick Brown, and 
was taught by Dr. William Welton. These were also the 
only houses of Avorship, for several years. 

The first settlers were mostly such as had been accus- 
tomed, to regard the Sabbath, and sustain the institutions 
of religion ; yet, coming from different sections of our 
country, and springing from different nationalities, each 
naturally tenacious of his own belief and his accustomed 
mode of worship, as has ever been tke case in new settle- 
ments of that character— they suffered more from too many 
church organizations, than too few ; each society being too 
IVicble, for many years, for efficient work. Yet, from the 
first, they were never without the Sabbath, and the public 
worship of God. But of this I am to speak in a more ex- 
tended manner, on the coming Sabbath. 
My father taught the first singing-school, in 1821-2, in 



50 WADS WORTH MEMORIAL. 

tlie south schoolhoiise, and organized the first choir, of 
which lie and Timothy Hudson were the choristers. After 
Mr. Hudson removed from the place, Benjamin Dean filled 
liis place. The next was taught by Richard Clark. Both 
had great difficulty in making their pupils "learn the 
gamut." For the want of books, they wrote their tunes on 
slips of paper. Tliey used the old-fashioned niahogony 
pitch-pipe to " sound the pitch." (Here the speaker exhib- 
ited the first book of tunes used, published in London, 
Eng., in 1772). A man by the name of Howe also used to 
teach in the south part of the town. In 1831-2, David S. 
Gibbs taught singing at the Center, and at Western Star. 
Gideon F. Gardner, of Chatham, taught in 1831-5. 

Our boots and shoes were made from our own leather, 
which was tanned on shares. The first tannery was owned 
by Levi Blakeslee, in the same yard as the one that stands 
near where we arc now assembled ; these grounds being 
owned by him. Our first shoemaker^was James Piatt ; the 
next, Reuben "Warner. We had also, shoemakers who 
went from house to house, and did the Avork for the whole 
family; tailors likewise. This was called, "whij^ping the 
cat." Our grindstones were made by Samuel M. Hay den. 

The first retail store was owned by Allen and John Par- 
dee, on the hill, at the present east limit of the village. 
The second by George Lyman ; the third by H. B. Spell- 
man. The first smith work was done at the shops of Peter 
Waltz, in the southeast corner of tlie township, and Elislia 
Hinsdale, on the Akron road, just over the line in Norton. 
Waltz and Hinsdale were both soldiers of the Revolution. 
Hinsdale and his brother were for many years manufactur- 
ers of axes, in Torrington, Connecticut. Hinsdale axes 
were regarded of superior quality, and much in demand 
on the Reserve. 

In 1819, Hiram C. Kingsbury set up a blacksmith shop, 
on the east bank of the brook, in the limits of this village. 
He was also a manufacturer of axes. 



WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 51 

The iirst physician in the townshii) was Dr. John Smith, 
who lived a short time in the Eastern part of tlie town- 
ship, and then removed just over the line in Guilford, on 
the Medina road. Dr. Samuel Austin was the next, at 
Western Star. The first at the Center, now the village, 
was Dr. Nathaniel Eastman. The next, and for many 
years the only one at Wadsworth Village, Dr. Geo. K. 
Pardee. 

The first Post Office in the township, was kept by Abel 
Dickinson, on the Me«iina road, established in 1822, which 
was removed to the Center in 1826, and kept by Frederick 
Brown. The first at Western Star, established at the same 
time, was kept by Mills Richards. The first at River Styx, 
by David Wilson. Previous to this the old citizens re- 
ceived their letters from Tallmadge, Canton, Old Portage, 
jSTew Portage, or whatever office was to them convenient. 

The first mail route was from Canton to Norwaik, by 
way of Medina, established about 1821. The mail was car- 
ried by Josiah Price, of Canton, who brought our newspa- 
pers from the Canton and Medina offices to our doors, call- 
ing us out with a tin horn. 

Among the exciting amusements of the early times, not 
the least was the ring-hunt, occurring once a year, usually 
in the fall. AVhen lines of swam^os, in the west part of the 
townships of Wadsworth and Sharon, or the large swamp 
of Copley and Norton, so famous as the great pigeon-roosf, 
were surrounded, and the game, consisting of bears, woIvcf? 
foxes, and deer, were driven out, usually upon a conical 
hill, and picked off by experienced marksmen, and the 
spoils divided among the participants. The last of these 
was a wolf hunt, in the Western part of Wadsworth and 
Sharon, in the Spring of 1835. 

The Western Reserve, and indeed the whole of Ohio, in 
the times of early settlement, abounded in wild animals, 
and the choicest game. The common deer, and moose (im- 
properly called elk); abounded. Turkeys were very nu- 



52 WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 

iiieroii8, and wild pigeoua in such numbers that the jic- 
eounts given, below the tacts, were regarded at the Ea*t as 
fabulous and were ridiculed as " Ohio stories/' of the same 
class as the sailors"' fish stories." But the numbers that 
ilew over Wadsworth every evening and morning, going 
to their roosts in the great swamps S. E. of Copley, and 
N. E. of Norton, and to find their supplies in the vast beach 
woods, in towns westward, would seem incredible to those 
now living there, since those woods have been cleai'ed up. 
They would come in vast flocks from the west, in the eve- 
ning. For a long time before they appeared in sight, we 
could hear the roar of their wings, like a distant cataract. 
Then they would come, spreading like a cloud over the 
whole horizon, tor several minutes. In the morning they 
would fly westward, breaking up into smaller flocks as 
they proceeded ; so their morning flight was not, like the 
evening, in clouds, but in chains. In the fall of 1823, I 
watched such a chain flying over tliese grounds, that con- 
tinued without a break from 6 to 9 o'clock. 

There was always, as Davy Crockett would say, "a right 
smart sprinkling of bears in these parts." I have a very 
vivid impression upon my memory of sitting up till a late 
hour, hearing James Cahow tell over hie bear stories, of 
which he was the hero, till on the heads of us little ones, 
it caused "each particular hair to stand on end like quills 
upon the fretful porcupine ;" and when, at length, we were 
compelled to ascend the ladder and go to bed, we would 
>iet down the candle and peep under the bed, io see if there 
w^as any mischief a Bruin there. 

Wildcats, opossums, raccoons, gray foxes, and •• the fret- 
ful porcupine," were not uncommon. A "coon-hunt," of 
a moonlight night in October, was the most fun for m 
boys. Wolves were very plenty, especially in the winter 
teason. In the winter of 1824, they were very numerous 
and bold. They had a ruinvay up the brook, and through 
the ravine where the depot now stands. We could heai' 



Wadsworth memorial. 53 

Uieir dismal concert, down at the point of the rock, where 
the sawmill now stands. They were sometimes canslit 
with steeltraps, but the most common way was the wolf- 
pen ; a pen made of poles, about eight feet by three, and 
three feet high, with the top lirmly pinned together, and 
raised by means of a spring. This was baited with fresli 
rneat^ which the wolf coming in and gnawing, lie w^onld 
spring the trap, and remain a prisoner. 

But saddest of all the episodes of those new settlements, 
were the searches for the lost ones ; a not uncommon inci- 
dent to the early settlement in those vast forests. The 
memorable one of Wadsworth, was a long and fruitless 
search for a young woman, who was a deaf mute, and sub- 
ject to paroxysms of mental derangement, during wiiich 
s-he was much inclined to escape from the house, and wan- 
der off. Her name Avas Sylva Beach, daughter of Abel 
Beach, and sister of Orlando Beach. In March, 1823, one 
evening, being with her mother, in the yard of the house, 
a« her mother went in, she slipped around the house. The 
family ran out, but could not fmd her. They and the 
neighbors searched for her all night, and In the morning, 
horseback couriers were sent to all in the region, for three 
or four miles around. 

There had been a slight fall of snow, in which tracks 
were to be found, and traced about a mile ; but the rising- 
sun soon melted the snow awav. The search was organ- 
ized about 10 o'clock, imder the direction of William Eyles, 
chosen commander, with a general committee of arrange- 
ments, among whom I recollect Frederick Brown, Allen 
Pardee, and Sherman J^oomis. The woods of Wadsworth 
and Sharon, and 8ome parts of Copley, Norton, and Chip- 
pewa, were searched for several days. They came from 
Guilford, Chippewa, Norton, and Copley, till the line was 
iucfeased to over four hundred men, stationed one every 
fom' rods, or sometimes broken into two or more bands, 
searching in different directions. 



54 WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 

At length they met at the Center one morning for con- 
sultation, after about a week's search. The committee, after 
conferring with the father and brothers, concluded to go 
over the grounds nearest the place of her departure, and 
in case of tailure, gire up the search. I can recall the very 
words of Esq. Eyles, as he addressed the croAvd that 
assembled at the Center on that third morning, before 
forming the line, which reached beyond the hill, west of 
Holmes' Brook. (I was then a boy nine years old). 

" Fellow-citizens," said he, " give me your attention for 
a moment, while I give you our directions. You will 
march westward, and let one man stop every fourth rod. 
Let each man look to his right hand man, each man to keep 
his proper distance, and not break the line. You will start 
at the sound of the horn at the west end, which will be 
repeated by the horns all the way through. When the last 
horn sounds, all move forward ; then let no man shout, no 
horn blow, except to announce that she is found. iSearch 
around every log or brush-heap with great care, for we 
only expect to find her lifeless body ; and let each man re- 
member his responsibility. This is not a bear-hunt, or a 
wolf-hunt, but a search for a lost fellow-creature, and may 
God give us success ! Move forward !" 

Never was a conununity more stirred in sympathy for a 
poor wanderer, and the afflicted family. But search was 
unavailing. Advertisemenls were sent to tlie Ohio Re- 
pository (Canton), and the Cleveland Herald, but no tid- 
ings of the lost one or any remains were ever found. 

The first death in Wadsworth was that of Daniel Ware, 
in 1817. He was buried in the south burial ground. The 
funeral discourse was preached by John Wise, of Chippe- 
wa. His coffin was made by Reuben Warner, and others, 
from puncheons split from a tree, and hewed down to thin 
planks. 

The next death was that of an infant daughter of Frede- 
rick and Chloe Brown (my sister) \ died July 15th, 1817. 



r' r' 



WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. ^O 

This was the first burial in the Center ground. The sec- 
ond buried in that ground was Abraham Falconer, son ol" 
Henry Falconer : died, 1817. The first adult burial was 
that of John Curtis ; died of consumption, in 1820. The 
second adult burial, Julia, Wife of Sherman Loomis, and 
daughter of Augustus Mills, in 1820. The next, Mrs. 
Wrio-ht, wife of AVilliam Henry Wright, and daughter ot 
Lysander Hard, in 1821. The first buried in the town lino 
.^round was the wife of Ebenezer Wright, and mother of 
W. H. Wright, in April, 1825. The next, John Sprague, in 
1826. The next, Lyman Brown ; killed by falling under a 
cart loaded with stone, at Akron, in 1826. 

WADSWORTH ACADEMY. 

The first school above the grade of common school, was 
held in the winter of 1830-1, in the then new Congrega- 
tional Church. The teacher was George W. Barnes, a stu- 
dent of Western Eeserve College. The next by Loren Ken- 
nedy. The next bv Isaac VanTassel— both also students 
of tiic same College. The next by John McGregor, a na- 
tive of Scotland ; a scholar, and in many respects a model 

teacher. 

In 1839, AYadsworth Academy was incorporated, and the 
octagon house erected, which has for a few years past been 
used as a church. In this Mr. McGregor continued as 
teacher till 1846. Several difi-erent persons taught for a 
short time in succession, till the graded school was estab- 
lished, and the Academy went into disuse, and the build- 
ing was sold. 

In the days of the Academy, Wadsworth was sought by 
young men from many surrounding towns, as the place to 
obtain the rudiments of a higher education ; and the num- 
ber is not small of those who have made their mark in the 
world, in the learned professions and as business men, who 
had their start here. * * * * * 

The first military training was in the road in front of 
my father's house, which stood where Dr. Lyman's garden 



56 WADSWORTH MEMOJRIAL, 

HOW IB, Tlie coiiipaiiy was made up from the towns of 
Wadswortli and Guilford. David Wilson Captain ; Reu- 
ben F. Warner Lieutenant. 

Of the brilliant achievements of that day, I ean recollect 
but one ; but it equaled that of a renouned king, " with 
twenty thousand men," which the poet's pen has immor- 
talized, for they '* marched down the hill, and then marched 
up again." The next year, the Guilford company being- 
set off and Captain Wilson with it, George Lyman was 
elected Cax)tain, Marcus Brown Lieutenant, and Calvin 
Dorwin Ensi2,u. Thev trained in the field where Dr. Lv' 
man's house and barn now stand. The next Captain clcc 
ted and commissioned Avas Lemuel jSTorth ; but he failed to 
make his appearance on the muster day, on account of sick- 
ness, and Peter AVeeks, Ensign, took command, using a cra- 
dle-finger for a sword. lie performed his duty with sin- 
gidar gallantry, considering that he was quite lame, from 
a severe Avound in the knee, received that morning, in a 
skirmish with my father's old dog Trihi, who could not 
understand why a man should be coming through his mas- 
ter's field, "with regimentals on." 

The next Captain was John Crissman. The next year, 
Norman Curtis, a recent emigrant from New York, where 
he had served as Captain, was elected to command the 
Wadsworth militia. Then began the era proper of the 
military spirit, or rather, its revival to what it was under 
Lyman's administration. The company greatly enlarged. 
Captain Curtis inspired them with an ambition to be the 
largest, best eqidpped, and best disciplined company in the 
regiment. Being promoted to Major, and then to Colonel, 
his brother, Cyrus Curtis, Jr., became Captain. He was 
succeeded by Harry A. Mills, afterwards promoted to Col. 
He by Daniel Warner. 

What was the record of Wadsworth in tlie great strug- 
gle of our country, tlie pens of those who know must tell ; 
but I have no doubt •' the most gallant sons of gallant sires" 



WADftWOilTn MEMORIAL. 

did their duty, and fill their place on Ohiob roll of hotior. 
I have thus endeavored to carry your minds back to tile 
beginning of things in this flourishing village, and the 
towns and conntrv round. Mv business has been only t,o 
show you the past. To picture to your mind's eye, AVads- 
worth as it was. You have called us back fi'om our dis- 
tant homes, to show us Wadsworth as it is. "We find the 
old landmarks fa:^t disappearing, and somerimes find it 
hard to connect the old with the new. 

The present generation can form no such conception 6f 
the grand old forests we were once familiar with, as our 
memory recalls. Nor did our most sanguine hopes take in 
a view of what IVadsworth was to become. The least of 
all seeds has gi'own to a magnificent tree. 

We bridge the chasm of half a century (and to the elders 
tiie span is but a short one), but how difi'erent the views? 
upon either side. There, vast forests of primitive oaks, 
chestnuts, beeches, and sycamores, Avith here aud there a 
log house and barn — the view confined to a few acres.:! 
Here, broad farms, stretching in the distance, with large 
farmhouses and barns, making in every direction, a land- 
scape of surpassing beauty ! There, the little log school- 
Itouse, sixteen feet by twenty, with its low, sliding win- 
dows, and fireplace occupying half of one end ! Here, the 
brick structure, ample enough for a College of the olden 
time, aud even the College bell, heard ringing out clearly 
on the morniu^ air ! There, the little shops, of humble pre- 
tensions, but hard labor and toil ! Here, large manulac- • 
turing houses, going up on every side, and the wares of ' 
Wadsworth contending for prizes in distant States! 
There, the wagon-track following the line of blazed trees, , 
and a dozen miles to some stage route ! Here, the shrill 
whistle announcing the arrival of the cars, on one of the 
great national railroads ! There, the post-rider on a jaded 
horse, with his tin horn announcing the arrival o f. the 
weekly newspapers, giving you the news from New-York, 



58 WADSWOETH HEMOEIAL. 

not more than three weeks old I Here, the daily mail and 
the telegraph, giving the news from the same points, in as 
many honrs ; and the issues of the Press, from this village, 
going by hundreds of thousands to every State in the Un- 
ion I There, the farmer scarcely able, from his products, 
to raise the money for his taxes ! Here, the very earth 
opening, and yielding up to the miner the hoards of wealth 
stored for ages ! 

We, then, who by your hospitality have been invited 
from our distant homes, in this and various other States, 
to this pleasant re-union on the old, familiar ground, bid 
you a hearty God-speed in the growing prosperity of our 
beloved town, in whose welfare we have felt a common 
Interest, though other States, or other towns, now claim ue. 

Though Providence, in years past, has cast our lots in 
newer scenes ; though we can speak with pride and pleas- 
ure of our joyful homes far away from you (for we live 
in a favored land, that under a Christian civilization, a free 
government, and liberal institutions, makes a home for hu* 
manity everywhere) ; though we can tell of delightful 
Bcenerj'^, of broad, fertile prairies, of beautiful aud grow- 
ing towns, not a few of them founded by your own form- 
er citizens ; though we love these homes, we have found no 
better laud than this. It would be hard, in this land, to 
find an area of five miles square, having as many natural 
advantages combined, as can be found in Wadsworth, 
Ohio. 

Go with me to Prospect Point, as we called it in my 
youth, one mile east of this village, and there take in the 
view from every point of the compass, and I can show you 
a landscape view, with Wadsworth as its center, contain- 
ing not grandeur, but beauty and loveliness. With all that- 
is necessary to make desirable homes, and prosperous and 
happy people, unsurpassed, I fear not to say, in this or any 
other land, where a kind Providence, with no parsimoni- 
ous hand, prepared a home for a happy aud prosperous 



WADSWORXa MEitOKIAL. 59 

pimple. Happy, so long as virtuous. Prosperous, so loiit?^ 
as frugal, iudustrious, and tcraperato. BlcsHed in your 
basket and your store, in the city and the field, so long a^s 
you forget not the God of your faihers. 

And now', having enjoyed this tirst and last happy re-un- 
ion, w^ bid you and each other, not a sad, but a cheerful 
and affectionate good-bye. 



50 WADSWOETH MEMOKlAl. 

• ■ A BKETCH Oy THE EARLY SETTLERS OF WAl>S"VVORTn 

AND CniPPEWA. 
By Poter Waltz. 

In August, 1814, a company of thirteen of us started 
ft-oii-i ^llswortb, to come West. Names as follows : My 
father, brother John, Catherine, aud myself; Christopher 
Rasor, William Uasor, Christian liasor, and George Rasor ; 
old Father Evcrhard, Cliristian Everhard, Jacob Everhard. 
and Jacob Smith. 

We started on Monday morning, about the middle of 
August, with two wagons loaded with provisions. The 
first day, we came about six miles, to Turkey Creek, where 
we broke an axle of one of our wagons. Here we en- 
camped over night, and repaired the wagon. The next 
day, we came to this side of Deerfield, and encamped on 
what was called Yellow Creek. The third day, we got 
along finely till almost night, when we again had bad luck. 
The other wagon was ])roken in the same way as the first. 
This day, we arrived at Suflield. 

In the morning we started, and camo as far a^ to whcro 
old Mr. Cahow lived, near Wolf Creek ; from there, we 
crossed Wolf Creek and came on the old Ilarrisville trail, 
across the Broad Bottoms Run ; then came west to near 
where Jacob INtillers house now siands. T'^om hence, cut 
the road southward, to where John Everhard lived. We 
arrived there little before night set in. They hnd erected a 
shanty here, in the Spring, in which we all found lodging 
until Monday. We th<^n cut a road to where Jacob Ever- 
hard lived, and from this place, we cut our way through to 
our new home, known at present as the site of the Old 
Waltz Church. We had to seek shelter in our wagons for 
two nights. Tlie third night, we had quite a house to live 
in. Then, you may believe, we felt at home. 

When our company came to Middlebury, Judge Norton, 
and William Hart's father lived there, and had erected a 
small ^ristroilh They wanted to know whether we be- 



WADSWORTH Ml^MORlAL. 61 

longed to an army, as wc were well armed. T think our 
company had with them nine guns. • • 

We worked hard all snmmer, in order to clear enough 
laud to sow^ some wheat in the fall. The next Spring, in 
April, 1815, Ave moved our families. Yon may imagine 
what a time we had in getting here. 

We brought a lot of hogs along, and as the bears were 
then quite numerous and annG7ing, we were obliged to 
keep them penned up ail summer, so as to shield them 
from the depredations of Bruin. The bears killed two of 
our hogs. We discovered two of the savage beasts, w^hiio 
in the act of devouring them, and as we had two firstrate 
dogs to assist us, the bears had no chance of escape. 

Now I will give you an account of how we obtained our 
salt in those days. In the fall of 1815, myself and father 
went to Cleveland for some. We had a span of horses, 
and a yoke of cattle, hitched to the same wagon, which 
was loaded with ])ork and w^ild honey. The first day, we 
got to where Mr. King kept taveru. From here we start- 
ed, and gtit on the wrong road, and struck the river, below 
Old Portage. AVe kept on the west side of the river, till 
wo got down to where James Brown lived, where we 
broke one of our wagon chains, in consequence of which, 
we were delayed one day. My father sent me to Hudson, 
a distance of seven miles, to get the chain mended. The 
charges for the same were tAvelve and a half cents. It took 
eight days to go to Cleveland and return. 

Middlebury was the place we got our grinding done. It 
,^lw\ays took two days to go to mill, and return. Where 
tapper Akron is now situated, was then a large alder- 
swamp, through which we (^onld not drive, but jvere 
obliged to drive around it. 

A full record of the pioneer events would cover pages, 
but T will close. 



(j2 WADS'iVOETH MKMOIJI.VL. 

^1>ad«woi'th Pioue«r». 

By Mra. S. M. Eastman. 

I I'atn would sing tho praise of those who first begun 
To make, in WcHteia wild?, a home for toiling man. 
From peaceful, quiet homcH, w here much -was laid in ston*. 
And strife with savage men was long since known uo mor**. 
Where sire, and grandsirc's sire, had lived, and loved, and die<i^ 
And graud-dam.s, in their youth, were brought as happy brldet.; 
From all that makes life sweet— kindred, and kindred'n kin. 
They journeyed to those wilds, a new life to begin. 

Not as we sec to-day, fields, rich with waving grain. 

With stately house, or modest cot, on every hill, aud plain: 

No well-kept, broad highway, a guide for them was made; 

By sun, or stare, from day to day, their onward course was laid 

Through forest, wild and vast, untrod by Christian man, 

Where the red Indian lurked, aud the fierce panther ran; 

Where savage beasts, in savage wilds, i-oamed at their own free will, 

And every night, the wolf's dread howl was heard, from hill to hill; 

Where deadly serpcnt-s lurked beside the fairest bubbling spring-, 
And death and danger seemed to dwell in every living thing. 
To such a home, those brave men came with earnest heaits, and tme. 
Bringing the wealth of faithful wives, and children not a few. 
Small store of gear for outward wear, and less of household pelf- 
All that was worn by sire or sou, eacli matron made, herself, 
lladc were the homes those hardy men first reared, amid the ■wild*?. 
Of unhewn logs, and earth for floor, with oaken puncheon tiled- 

On the broad hearth, a generous store of giant logs was laid. 
And every night its ruddy glow on happy faces played, 
And by it« light the housewife toiled, the children played in gle«. 
While the father told of the olden time, to the boy bedside his kueei, 
But fast, beneath the ringing strokes, by sturdy axmeu dealt, 
The giant monarchs loose their crowns, the mighty forests melt; 
And soon, the green stalkfi of the maize show in the open glade, 
The first this soil had ever known since first the world was made. 

Ere long, the lowing of the herds, the bleating of the lambs. 
Gave promise of a rich reward to faithful heartii and hands; 
And as rude nature yields her sway to man's opposing power, 
We see the dawning of the day that brings us to this hour. 
For, step by step and stroke on stroke, the work was carried on; 
No laggard, in that busy race, the pri^e has ever won. 
But change i3 marked on all below; each passing day is strange; 
And looking back for sixty years, how great has been the change. 

How few the sturdy pioneers that in this work begun; 
How few the hearts that swelled with pride, as e&ch year's work waa 
done; 



WADSWORTH M'EMORIAL. §3 

How few the eyes that shone with joy, and youthful pulses' beat, 
^all gather Avith us here to-day, their old-time friemle to greet. 
But on each hand, we sec the work their industry hath wrought; 
The well-cleared lands, the happy homers, their patient labor boughl. 
Fair a^ the vision of a cli'cam, the land in beauty lies, 
But looking back, at memory's call its ancient forests rise*— 

The hills, the rocks, the wild -wood game that wandered far and free, 
The friends that'shared and cheered our toil, in memory we sco— 
Ail, all relur.^ . A moment, then, the present claims our care, 
And drifting f i om the present, we the future would lay bare. 
When sixty years have set their seal on all we sec to-day, 
How many, living now, shall greet that anniversary? 
Who of all those assembled here will meet on time's fair shore, 
And tell the talcs that we now tell, of those long gone before? 
Though few may stay on this side heaven to see that other time. 
May we all meet to welcome them, in that celestial clime! 



04 WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 

HUMOROUS, POETICAL AND PROSE NARKATIVE, OF 

AAKON PARDEE, ESQ. 

Bead at the Pioneer meetin.?. 

My dear boys and girliJ, come and »it down beside mc 
While I tell of the early days, things that 1 know. 
At the age of sixteen, a tali Yankee, they found mo 
In Wadsworth, one morning, a long time ago. 
There were four of us, John, sister Julia, and mother, . 
And John's Avife and children, and Allen, my brother. 
John he drove one wagon, and Allen the other, 
And I drove two cows, and I think I drove slow. 

We were two weeks in coming from old Onondaga, 

Wo stopped every Sunday, at noon, for a bite. 

Turned olT ])efore reaching the bold Cuyahoga, 

And in Tinker's Creek JIoUow avc ntayed over night. 

On through the Old Portage, by Josh King's we came twining 

Our way round the hills, by old Flenry Vanhyning. 

At length, just at night, while the sun was still shining, 

The house of l*hin Butler, it just hove in sight. 

This was in Se])teiiiber. 1824. Butler married my sister 
8ally. They lived on the corner, where the road turns to 
Akron. The house stood on the south side of the stream, 
on Slanker's land now. Butler and Judi,^e Pardee moved 
from New York State into Wadsworth, six years before, 
and Al went back to hcli) us move. 

For the next three years following, 1 think 1 was busy; 
I worked on a farm, and I planted and sowctl. 
To think how I Avhirled round e'en now makes me dizzy, 
And though tall then as ever, I " spc^cs that I growed." 
At all parties, and meetings, and gatherings you'd find me 
At evening, on hor.sebaok, with some girl behind me. 
I smile, and 1 weep, when old memories remind me 
Of the right arms ;a-ound me those nights, as we rode. 

I knew every boy and girl in Wadsworth then, and 
everybody else. Here at the Center, were Judge Brown's 
folks, Levi Blakesh^e, and Hiram C. KiiiJ4"sbiiry. We 
moved onto the Tim Hudson farm, now called Kasor farm. 
Sanrael lilockers folks were on the Yockey farm ; then old 
Jakv) Miller, and John Sprague. Next came, as you go 
west, Esq. Warner, Gus Mills, Stew Richards, and old 



wads"worth: memohial. 65 

UxwJe Jed. Cul, Zeke, Mills. Geor^^e, and Jule. (I beliere 
they could ail fiddle, that is the Hichards'B could). Then 
there was Capt. Cyrus Curtis, lived on the little stony 
knoll, this side of Western Star, and Col. Norman on the 
hill north. Henry Wright along" the town line: (hen old 
Lysander Hard owned the Dague farm ; John 1\ esmith on 
tJie other side of tlie roud. Capt. Lyman owned the Dou- 
little farm, but I think: he was in Canton, teaching school. 
Uncle Ben Agard on the Laws farm ; Judge Eyles, and 
Uncle Joe Loomis, and Orin and Abel Beach. Then there 
was Lewis Battison. Alvin Agard. and Lemuel North. 
Moody Weeks lived down in the hollow, since a part of 
the old Glasgo farm. Moody Weeks died in February, 
1825 ; his funeral atus the first I ever attended in Wads- 
worth. Then there was Peter and Leavitt Weeks, Tim 
Bennett. Jimmy and Nancy Spiilman, Elder Newcomb, 
Bichard Clark. Gurdon Hiiliard and Bobert, Ben Dean, 
and his father. Daniel Dean. Judge Pardee then lived on 
the farm now owned by Jacob 8. Cverholt, and Harry 
Mills between them and Butler's. Then it Avas woods, 
over to Etc Moody's and Ira's. Then old Abram Hard, 
old Dr. Smith on the Hanchett farm. Lntbnr Hemming- 
way. Tom French, ''Spider Hanchett," Abel Dickinson, 
and Josh Shaw, where Benjamin Tyler now lives; then, 
Chaunccy Hart. Then you come over towards the Center, 
and you find George Beach and Sherman Loomis. 

All the southwest quarter of tlie township was woods^ 
except George Beacli's farm, and David Biers's, who had 
a house opposite tlie house of (), Beach. Then, to come 
back into the southeast quarter, we find the Everhards, 
the Kasors. Christian, Cristopher (called Stofel), William, 
and George ; the Smiths, Jake Smith and Big Jake ; Samuel 
Hayden, the Falconers, Henry and Sam ; William and 
Benjamin Simcox ; James Piatt, and Beuben Warner : 
Fiatt lived just south of the depot, and Warner where th^ 
pine-trees stand. 



gg WADSWORTII MEMORIAL. 

60 now let's go back to the scenes of our childhood, 
Our youtb, or our manhood, and log cabin home, 
With the small spot of clearing reclaimed from the wildwood 
Where the wild deer and wolf unmolested could roam. 
Bream on, dear old man, or dear lady, thy dreaming 
Gives joy to thy heart, on thy countenauce beaming; 
(.)T, perhaps, may awaken those tears that are streaming 
l>own the deep-furrowed cheek, for the days that are gone. 

The township of Wadsworth once shone in wild glory 
As she came from the workshop of nature, and God. 
The trees of her forests stood lofty and hoary, 
Giving .shade to the soil where no white man had trod. 
But we took her, and gave her a thorough reforming; 
lier children are now her unrivaled adorning. 
We present them, all happy and smiling, thin morning; 
Out jewels are here, in the image of God. 



wadsvvokth memorial. 67 

MEMORIAL SERMON, BY REV. E. BROWV. 
Preached in the grove, Sabbath, May 31, 187 i. 

•'That the generation to come might know them, even 
the children whicli should be born ; who should arise, and 
declare them to their children ; that they might set their 
hope in God, and not forget the works of God ; but keep 
His commandments." — Psalm Ixxviii : 6, 7. 

The law of the universe is a law of progress, involving 
eternal change. Unchangeableness can reside only in 
infinity, and infinity can belong only to the Author of the 
universe. Hence, change is written upon all things. 

Ail the researches of science are but discoveries of phe- 
nomena, or changes, th.at are ever taking place. Kot even 
the landscape, seemingly the same in its features, can ever 
be pointed twice alike, or the swift beams of light stamp the 
same photograph twice, with the same features, the same 
lights and shades, with no variation. Nor is this con- 
fined to this world : but the telescope and the spectroscope 
are continually recording the evidence written in the great 
book of the universe, that the Creator, through these 
changes, is forever working oat his wonderful counsels, 

A godless science may see only a fortuitous evolution, 
working life out of death, and anon death resuming its 
ancient dominion. It sees only a universe going to decay 
and ruin. But true science takes account of the demands of 
our higher nature, and looks for the wisdom and power 
that is behind all phenomena, and moving them, and hav- 
ing found an infinite God there, sees in all these changes, 
the working out of a great and glorious plan, worthy of a 
God. This thought comforts in the consideration of the 
fact that the world is thus changing, and that we are 
changing with it. That though youth is bright and joyous, 
we can not stay young. That though middle-age is strong 
and hopeful, we can not retain our manly vigor. Nor can 
we even settle down in the tranquility of old age, for the 
inevitable law can never change. 



(>3 WADSWOKTrt -\JKMORI4i.. 

Tlie earthly mission must close. Tho hands must wax 
feeble. The strong must bovr. The vital current must 
cease to flow, and the wheels of life must stop. The dugt 
return to dust again ; and the demands of the soul of man^ 
dding with revelation, tells us, <hat, though matter must 
change, there is a higher nature, that must still live, to ex- 
perience uew changes, in conscious existence forever. It 
IB this nature that makes us so fond of living on in the 
hearts of those with whom we were associated, and desir- 
ous of leaving some memorial of ourselves, something to 
keep the name on earth, sometimes to be repeated, though 
it be only a name, carved on a stone, to be read by genera- 
tions who knew nothing of him who bore the name. 

'• E'en from tho tomb, the voice of nature ctIcb. 
E'en in our aehes live their wonted fires." 

But there is another inevitable law ; that we value the 
memory of the dead only by the consideration of what tho 
life was worth. A worthless life can have only a worth- 
less remembrance. Hence, it is a merciful Providence that 
provides in our nature,, as declared in revelation, that, ''The 
name of the wicked shall rot;" while all nature says amen 
to another declaration — "The righteous shall be had in 
everlasting remembrance.'' 

We pass among the gorgeous mausoleums of Mount Au- 
burn, and Greenwood, and how soon tlie eye tires with the 
«ight. The mind wearies with the contemplation of the 
folly of lavish wealth, trying in vain to counteract the law 
of nature. Kich' v/orthlessness, by money alone, keeping up 
a mute contest with the oblivion that claims all that can 
leave no worthy memorial behind. Not only are monu- 
ments proverbially false, but proverbially neglected. Yet 
you will see in Greenwood a plain shaft, unpretending 
enough, compared with its highly wrought surroundings, 
aromid which the path is ever well worji. It perpetuate-S 
only a name and a deed— the (ireman, who sacrificed his OTrn 
lilfe to cavG an unknown infant from the fiame*. Thouf k 



OTity an uukiio vrn laborer, that one worthy act will leave a 
remembrance that will far outlive the name of him who 
only represented a mass of wealth. Though the world 
ea-gerly pursues atter wealth as the chief good, how little 
interested is the world in knowing who held the coffers 
in which ihi^ gold of other days was hoarded. Yet, when 
* great or good work h done, all desire to know who 
did it 

Men are, after all, ^'only remembered by what they have 
done." If they^ have been monsters in wickedness, they 
live "in the long-lived annals of infamy," to becomeja by- 
word and an execration. If they have lived to bless the 
world, though Ihey have rested from their labors, their 
mrorks do follow them, and their memory is blessed. 

Wo have been for a few days recalling the history of the 
years that have passed, calling to remembrance the toil, the 
labors, the self-denials, sacrifices donejand endured by dax-- 
ing and hardy pioneers, who opened in the wilderness these 
pleasant homes of yours, in the first of these three-score 
years since thi^f became the abode of civilized man. We 
have recalled the long and toilsome journeys from their 
Ibrmer Eastern homes, of those who came, impelled, some 
of them by^ necessity, some by the spirit of adventure, 
some in the pursuit of wealth, and some, as we may believe, 
with a sincere desire to extend their opportunity to do 
good to their fellow-men, and bless the w^orld. 

All tell a similar story, of hardships, privations, and 
labor; yet all, of the happiness they enjoyed, in that which 
dignifies man far above empty titles, or ill-gotten honors — 
the nobility of honest labor. The fruits of all this you see 
in a beautiful and flourishing town, an enterprising and 
intelligent community, and material prosperity on every 
hand, and you have vied with each other in bestowing 
honor upon the memory of those who have passed away. 

But when we consider how transient is everything earth- 
ly: wh€ia we think of ouraelves as beiugg not of thi* 



alone, but of uther worlds: not of tiuie. but of eteinity, 
we see that there are interests that rise above these mate- 
rial oueg, as far as spirit is above dear! matter: that reach 
beyond these years, as eternity out-nn^asures lime. The 
niosr important historical question concerning: the annals 
of this place, then, is the one which we liave reserved as 
the last : What is the spiritual heritatre left you, by the 
pioneers of this community ? 

To the gross niind, who can see no /i^ood but in material 
things, this may seem an unimportant question. IJut to 
those who have studied the history of communities and 
suites, in the light of their religious and moral principles, 
the question is not unimportant. I have heard the remark 
fiiade, since I came here, " It is our railroad that has created 
our prosperity." Rut, though not as large a place, it was 
the center of a prosperous commimity, before a railroad 
was thought of in the dreams of the most sanguine. 

It has been my lot tu have lived Die life of u pioneer. 
To have been borne on the advance wave of emigration ; 
to have seen the begiuijing of things, and actively to have 
participated in them, in five States ; and I have learned 
that it is not richness of soil, or material wealth alone, that 
make a prosperous community. I can point you to towns 
situated on leading thoroughtarcs of business and travel, 
with material advantages equal to this, that never can be 
prosperous till :? better race, like Israel, shall crowd off 
those miserable Canaanites, and form a better community. 

The founders of commtmities leave their impress upon 
those communities, that seems ineft'aceable from generation 
to generation. It seems to have been incorporated with 
the laws of our being, that what was the free will of the 
ancestor, becomes the destiny of his posterity. It was not 
an arbitrary decree, that '^ the iniquities of the fatherr* 
should be visited upon the children, unto the third and 
fourth generation." It was, rather, the enunciation of an 
existing fact, growing out of the nature of man. disccrni- 



^ADSWOJITH MEMORIAL. Tl 

ble without ihe light of revelation ; seou more clearlyj 
indeed, where that light has never shone ; like the writing 
with phosphorus upon the wall, the more legible the thick' 
er the darkness ; while with a free Bible and the Sabbath 
worship, if there has ever been an exception to the script* 
nral rule, *' Happy is the people whose God is the Lord/' 
the historian has failed to record it. I can see w^here the 
elements of prosperity came from, long before the build- 
ing of the railroad, or the discovery of your mines. 

I will suppose — a thing that J have more than once seen 
—-that the first business house had been only a grog-shop. 
and the people for miles around had had no other resort on 
tiie Sabbath than that sink of pollution ; that the Sabbath 
worship had been only Bachanal orgies — would it have 
been the prosperous, pleasant. de8ii*able location we now 
find it? It might have attracted business and intelligence 
bv its natural advantages, but it would have obtained a 
good and desirable population only by a better class buy- 
ing out the impoverished settlers, who. with their equally 
worthless children, whose only inheritance had been sin and 
shame, would have moved on. to curse some other place. 
You have, many of yon. seen just such places. 1 liave 
Heen scores of them. 

Though, before the agitation ol the temperance question, 
ardent spirits were in common usc. the tow n never had one 
of those unmitigated curses, that, fifty years ago, made so 
many neighborhoods to be moral wastes; that brought a 
thriftless, hopeless, drunken rabble around them, as crows 
and buzzards flock nround :\ })utrid carcass. 1 mean a 
country distillery, or "stillhouse." I'.s it Avas then called. 
Instead of that, from the hrst. tin* worship of God was 
established. To-day. all unite in the most afl'ecting (rib- 
uti? of respect to those old ('hriatian pioneers, who. like 
the father of tlie laithful. erected tlu*. altar of God whei- 
ever they went. The Ibuiuhitiou <»f the prosperity of the 
place Was laid in the oliservam-e of the Sabbath, and th<^ 



72 WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 

erection of the log .scboolliouye. in the wilde^t^aeiA, t© 
iserve the double purpose of a seminary ot learning, ajatj a 
yanctuarv for the pure worship of God. 

The first religious meeting was held at the houBe of Oli*- 
ver Durham, in July. 181-1. The attendance was by the 
ianiilies of Messrs. Dean and Durham, and Mr. Salmon 
Warner, a brother-in-law of Mr. Dean, and father-in-law 
of Mr. Durham, who had visited the place to select a farm 
for himself. Moving there the next February, regular 
prayer-meetings were established at his house ; so that pub- 
lic worship may be considered to have been established 
in February, 1815, the familes of the first three settler*? 
composing the assembly : that of Mr. Dean being of the 
Baptist, aud those of Mr. Warner and Mr. Durham of tbo 
Methodist denomination. These meetings were continued 
at the house of Mr. Warner, until the erection of the first 
schooihouse, inl81(). In May of that year, emigrants from 
Connecticut, the families of Frederick Brown, Benjamiu 
Agard,and Joseph Loomis, having arrived, they with s«»m.« 
other new arrivals, help»>d to sustain these meetings. 

1 have heard my father, in my youthful days, relat<? tbo 
pleasing incident of liis first introduction to avtr. Warn<'r, 
and the arrangement they made together to set tip the Sab- 
bath worship, in a more public and permanent manner. 
Ue had just arrived the previous week, and with his fam- 
ily was slaying at the liouse of Benjamin Agard. who had 
preceeded him a few months. Hearing that religious 
meetings were then hdd at the house of a man by th<» 
name of Warner, the three families went on Sabbath uu.»rn- 
ing, titrough the wouds to his house. The meeting w^a* 
conducted by Mr. VV' arner ; tliose who were singers assist- 
ing in that part of the worship, and my father taking part 
in speaking and pj-ayer. 

After the meeting, Mr. Warner called my fattier into the 
other part of his double log house, for private conference. 
"First," said be. •' 1 wisl^ to kuov.- who and what vou art\" 



WADSWORTH MEMOEIAL. 73 

My father replied, " We are Congregatioualists, from Coti- 
ftecticut." Mr. Warner replied, " My parents were Con- 
gregationalists ; I am a Methodist, and have been almost 
alone in keeping np meetings the year past; and now I 
propose that we unite, and we can sustain meetings every 
Sabbath. I see you are singers ; that will be a great help. 
And now your people have a practice that I like ; that of 
reading a sermon when you have no preacher. Have you 
any volumes of sermons you can bring to read from ?'* 
My father replied, " I have, but many of the sermons are 
highly Calvinistic, and you may not approve their doc- 
trine ; so I will hand you the book beforehand, and you 
may select such as you can call orthodox, and they shall be 
read." The next week, he handed Mr. Warner this vol- 
ume of sermons I liave in my hand, and here exhibit to 
you. (Holding up an old volume of sermons, printed by 
Hudson and Goodwin, Hartford, Conn., 1797). 

The meetings were conducted jointly by those two men, 
in the manner agreed upon, at the house of Mr. Warner, 
until the erection of what was called the south school - 
house, in the autumn following (1816), when they were 
held in the schoolhouse. Here began a fraternal union be- 
tween those two old pioneers, who may, without any injus- 
tice to others, be termed the first founders of the Method- 
let and Congregational churches. A union that was 
never broken. Though then, as now, and always, there 
were narrow-minded bigots who sought to break up such a 
union ; though an outside influence was brought to bear so 
powerfully as to compel a separation about a year after- 
wards, ihe particulars of which I. need not give to the pub- 
lic, nothing ever occurred to create any estrangement or 
jealousy between those two old fathers. To the end ot 
their pilgrimage, tliey loved each other as brothers, and 
consulted together for the social, moral, and religious wel- 
lare of the settlement. 
In 1810, a Methodist class was formed, consisting of Bnl^ 



74 WADbWORTH MEMORIAL. 

mon Warner. Mrs. Luciiia Warner, Miss Harriet Warner, 
Oliver JJurliam and Mrs. Lainira JJurliam, Wm. H. Wriglit 
and wife, and Mrs. Polly Kirkuni. As no record remains, 
tlie name of the minister who ori^anized the class is not 
preserved, nor can 1 learn the names of the tirst Methodist 
preachers, except Ezra Booth, and Wm. Eddy. 

The Congregational chnrch was organized August 8, 
1819, llev. John Treat the olRciating- minister. The origin- 
al members were Frederick Brown, Mrs. Chloe S. Brown, 
Augustus Mills, Mrs. Martha Mills, George Lyman, Mrs. 
Ophelia Lyman, Benjamin Agard, Sherman Loorais, and 
Jacob Lindley. 

On the 25th of Aug., 1817, a Union churcli and societ7 
Avas formed, by members of the German lleformed, and 
Lutheran denominations. The names of tlie original mem- 
bers can not be obtained. The ehiers were Peter Waltz, 
sr., and Christian Everhard. Trustees, Jacob Everhard, 
Adam Baughman. Benjamin Eaust, iirst i)astor. 

A Baj^tist church Avas organized under tlic i)astoral 
charge of Obadiah NcAA'Comb, in 1821. This Avas afterAvard 
the nucleus of the Disciple churcli. Of its original mem- 
bers were Obadiah Newcomb and Avife, AVilliam Eyles and 
Avife, Samuel Green and wife, and Mi-s. Battison and Mr. 
and Mrs. Donor, of ChippcAva. Another Baptist churcli 
Avas afterAvards organized in tlie northwest part of the 
toAvn, by Elder ])immock, in 1836. The original members 
of the Disciple church Avere Obadiah NeAvcomb, Satira 
NcAVComb, Matilda NeAVComb, Victory Clark, Samuel 
Green, A. B. Green, and Polly Eyles. 

About the time of the separation of the Methodists from 
the Congregationalists, Mr. Brown Avas joined by George 
Lyman, a young man, from Torrington, Connecticut, a\ bo 
took an active ])art in sustaining the meetings. They Avere 
held every Sabbath, tAvice a day, in the old style of Ncav 
i^ngland. After singing and prayer, and singing again, 
tlie leader either read a sermon, or called upon some other 



WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 75 

to read. The most frequent reader was Sherman Loomis, 
whose musical voice and rhetorical delivery is still one of 
the pleasant memories of those days. Of those who were 
occasionally readers, I can recall George Kirkum, Harry 
Lucas, Lemuel North, John Sprague, Allen Pardee, Dr. 
Geo. K. Pardee, Aaron Pardee, and George Lyman. 

On the erection of the next schoolhouse, then called the 
north schoolhouse, the meetings were held alternately in 
each place. From 1821 to 1824, Mr. Lyman was absent 
from the township, and Mr. Brown was assisted in con- 
ducting the meetings by Ebenezer Andrus and William 
Graham, of Chippewa, a portion of the time being occu- 
pied by Rev. Obadiah Newcomb ; the Baptists and CongTe- 
gationalists uniting in his support. He preached a part of 
the time in Norton and Coventry. He was a man of abil- 
ity, much respected, and his services much demanded on 
funeral occasions. 

The Congregational church, through the Deacons' meet- 
ings, as they were called, was the tirst to maintain public 
worship on the Sabbath, for several of the first years 
of the history of the township. Tlirough these earlj' 
beginnings I have sketched, the Sabbath has ever been 
kept as a day of rest and worship, and a moral and reli- 
gious atmosphere created; the soil broken up and pre- 
pared, from which the churches of to-day have sprung up 
and grown. It is no injustice to others to say that Salmon 
Warner and Frederick Brown were the ones who cast the 
grain of mustard seed into this field, which their subse- 
quent co-w^orkers nourished, till it has grown into a good- 
ly tree, whose various branches have spread far enough to 
furnish a grateful shelter for Christians of different names. 

The Western part of the township, and Eastern part of 
Guilford were settled by members of the Mennonite de- 
nomination. I have no record of their churches (embrac- 
ing each of the divisions known by that name). The Col- 
lege established by that denomination, stands within th 



•^5 WADSWOETH MEMORIAL. 

limits of this village ; their only one in the United States. 
The Universalists maintained preaching for several 
years, from 1824. Their first minister was a Mr. Williams, 
who afterwards became a minister of the Disciple church. 
The next was a Mr. Tracy. The next, a Mr. Rodgers. But 
no church w^as ever formed. 

The tirst Congregational minister who preached statedly 
In Wadsworth, was Rev. Joseph H. Breck, in 1823, altern- 
ating with Harrisville. In 1826, Rev. Amasa Jerome was 
settled as pastor of the church. He was installed Novem- 
ber 1, 1826. The services were held in Benjamin Agard's 
barn; sermon by Rev. Giles H. Cowles, D. D., of Austins- 
burg ; text— 2nd Cor., v : 20. The choir was led by Rich- 
ard Clark, James Newcomb playing the bass-viol. (This 
was^the first use of a musical instrument in public wor- 
ship). In 1828, declining health compelled his resignation, 
and he returned to Connecticut, where he died, about three 
years afterwards. , The next settled pastor was Rev. Gil- 
bert Fay, from 1830 to his death, in 1835. He was a good 
man, highly respected by all classes of people. The next 
year, the pulpit was supplied by Revs. Asaph Boutell, and 
W. Johnson ; then Revs. Boswell Brooks, and Joel Talcott, 
each one year ; then Rev. A. K. Wright, who died in 1844. 

Up to 1828, the Congregational church met, on alternate 
Sundays, at the the south schoolhousc, on the corner oppo- 
site the Spragues, and the north schoolhouse, near Judge 
Eyles's. The Baptists used the north schoolhouse, and tho 
Methodists the south, on alternate Sabbaths. 

In 1828, a log house belonging to Judge Brown, at the 
Center, and used for a schoolhouse, began to be used, and 
in 1829, the north schoolhouse went out of use, and the 
meetings were held at the Center alone. The Methodist* 
meeting at the town-line schoolhouse, and the west school* 
house, on the Medina road, and the Disciples meeting at 
the town-line, and the north schoolhouse, near Lemuel 
North's. / 



WaDSWORTH MEMOlilAt. 77 

Ttie first house of worship was the Lutheran and Ger- 
man Reformed log meeting-house, built on the Chippewa 
road, on the line between Wadsworth and Chippewa. 
The next,, the old Congregational church at the Center, on 
the site of the present one, built in 1830. The Methodist 
house was built in 1835. 

It may be interesting to the present generation to give a 
history of the building of the first Congi-egational house ; 
the first house of worship' erected within the limits of the 
township. In March, 1820, finding a house of worship a 
necessity, a society meeting was called, and it was resolved 
to build a house 24 bv 36 feet in dimensions, to build it 
with our own hands. We met at the house of F. Brown, 
a company of thirteen. Frederick Brown, Joseph Looniis, 
Shennau Loomis, Benjamin Agard, Roman L. Agard, Geo. 
Lyman, William Beach, Levi Blakeslee, James Piatt, Geo. 
Walcott, Caleb Battles, John Brown, and Edward Brown. 
We felled, scored, and hewed the timber, drew it to its 
place— Mr. Battles and Hezekiah Ward laying out the 
work— framed it with our own hands, with the exception 
that some other citizens worked with us a part of the time, 
of whom, I recollect Cyrus Hard, H. A. Mills, Alvin 
Agard ; Dr. G. K. Pardee, and some others, contributing 
money and nails. The lumber was procvired in the same 
way ; cutting the trees, hauling them to the sawmill, and 
each one sawing his own part of the lumber, Messrs. 
J^omis and Beach, the proprietors, giving the use of the 
mill. The first lumber was burned in kiln-drying, neces- 
sitating the hauling and sawing of a new lot of logs, in 
midsummer. The shingles, also, were made by the same 
hands, tVom chestnut trees, and the shingles, siding, and 
lathing put on by them. A joiner was hired to lay the 
floor, and make the doors and windows. All else was 
done by volunteer work. 

This was in the early stage of tlie temperance reform, 
amd it wa« resolved to raise the frame without whisky, a 



78 WADSWORTH MEAtOfelAL. 

thing that had never been attempted before. Notice was 
sent throughout the town, inviting everybody to come, say- 
ing no spirits would be furnished, but a good dinner pro- 
vided by the ladies. Some refused to come, but when the 
day arrived, a large crowd was upon the ground, and never 
had a building been put up with such ease and facility. 
All repaired to the rich dinner, i)rovided by the Wads- 
worth ladies, with the best of feeling. The day was 
closed witli an old-time game of baseball, and the new 
fashion established, of raisings wiihout intoxicating liq- 
uors. 

I have thus given you a sketch of the early religious his- 
tory of Wadsworth, illustrating these great truths, '-'that 
God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation, he 
that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted of 
Him.'' That costly temples, or an ordained or appointed 
ministry, though among the important means of grace, are 
not absolutely essential to the mainlennnce and true preacJi- 
ing of the gospel. The gospel preached in low, hesitating 
words, in his own house, or by the sick-bed, or at the fune- 
ral in the log cabin, by Salmon Warner, was refreshing, as 
draughts of pure water to the pilgrim in the descrl. And 
although an ordained minister of the gospel, in duo for- 
mality, I can never feel myself more truly called of God 
as his minister, than was ]'\*ederick Brown, in these wilds, 
almost three-score years ago. As I listened to those sweet- 
toned Sabbath bells that this lovely morning rung their 
musical call to pleasing, solenm worship, what a mingled 
train of solemn, pleasing, and sad emotions tilled my 
thoughts ! How the buried memories of half a century 
welled up from the depths of the soul ! I was more than 
twelve years old before I ever heard the sound of the 
church-going bell, and that in a distant town. It was 
many years before I ever saw a house that was erected 
especially for the worship of God. Yet my memory can 
not go back to the time when I did not expect to repair to 



WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 79 

the rough, log" schoollioiise sanctuary ; and I have thought 
tliat had our spiritual eyes then been opened, as were 
those of the servant of Klisha, we should have seen angel- 
ic listeners, as those old sernrions were read, and the '' Glory 
of the Lord" resting upon those rude white -wood tables, 
as truly as on rhe mercy-seat, in the holy of holies. No 
memory of my childhood now comes up before me, in the 
day dream or night vision, surrounded by such a halo of 
heavenly light as that of the family gToup — the mother on 
horseback, the father and children threading their way 
along that well-worn forest path of two miles to the north 
schoolhouse. When the squirrel chattered a good-morn- 
ing from the tree above us, and the wild bird sang a vol- 
untary, as our prelude to prepare the heart to worship 
God; when, a barefooted boy, I often stopped and sat 
down to i)ick the spines of the chestnut burs from my 
foet^ and then ran on, in gleefulness that would some- 
times break forth in such boisterousness as to call forth the 
gentle reminder, from iny father, that it was the Sabbath 
day. And now, let me drop the remark, that I have some- 
limcs heard, with pain, the Sabbath keeping views of 
Judge Brown caricatured, as though he held it a day of 
such awful solemnitv as made it a burden, such as not 
even a Jew of old could have borne ; that even set sacri- 
lice before mercy ; but the best commentary upon this, as 
upon most of the caricatures so fashio)iable ux)on the Puri- 
tan Sabbath, is that his own family never made the discov- 
ery. Xo day of the week was one of such home delight, 
towards which we looked with such eager joy, in that day 
when parents and children must fill ui) the week with 
wearisome toil, as the Siibbath. 

Then, citizens of Wads worth, was the seed-sowing time 
in the wilderness. You are reaping the harvest. The ma- 
tured fruit always testifies to the sowing, whether the 
flower wills it or not. You enjoy the fruits. I leave it io 
you to say whether good seed was sown. Ah! again and 



30 WjUDSWORTH msmoriaL. 

again have I found my self-command of small account to 
me, as I have grasped the hand of the octogenarian, and 
as he looked into my face, already beginning to show the 
fun'ows of time's ploughing, and the harrowings of care? 
and said with choking emotion, " How you remind me of 
your father, that good old man whose memory is so pre- 
cious ;" fully as often, too, from those who differed from 
him on almost every subject, in former years. 1 ask no 
better monument to his memory. It will live in hearts in 
higher worlds, long after marble has crumbled to dust. 
Why do we hear the names of Salmon "Warner and Frede- 
rick Brown still repeated with reverence, so many year« 
after they have rested from their labors ? Because their 
works do follow them. I do not mention them so prom- 
inently to set them above other noble workers, of differ- 
ent names and denominations, but because they planted, 
the first seed. One old veteran,* now beyond four-score 
years, then a youthful co-worker, who took up the burden 
after they laid it down, still lingers, waiting to see a few 
more sheaves gathered, and report the harvest. Other pil- 
grims, who traveled the same road with them, rest in the 
land of Bculah, waiting for the messenger. And soon, the 
company on the shore will wave their adieu as the boat 
leaves with the last of the pioneer band. May no degen- 
erate descendant ever bring a blot upon their honored 
names, and may the time never come when those now liv- 
ing here, or those to rise up hereafter, shall blush to own 
that Wads worth was tlieir birthplace, or their home. 

*Capt. George Lyman, 



WAlXSWORTfl MEMOKIAf.. gl 

CLOSIKG- POKMj BY MRS. JENN^IE G. BBOWN, OF MEDFORD, 

MINNESOTA. 



farewell to ihe Pioneers! 

By a Stranger. 
Ti> call the v\ audeiiug exile back across the guir uf years. 
To welcome him, from near and far, with gladsome soug and cheers. 
Back to the home he loved so well, when he and home were young; 
That home of memory's rainbow tints, the home his Iieart has sun^^— 
Another claimed the graceful muse, fit for so grateful task. 
And but the graver, sadder one is left for me to ask. 

Sun-gilded, treasure-laden streams are lost in sea at last; 

These golden, richly freighted days are merging in the past. 

The hours are speeding on, and ye must to the mandate bow; 

The hands that grajsped in greeting then, must grasp in parting now. 

I know ye're brave, old friends, as when ye clave those trees apart; 

Aye, well y'eve beaten back the waves that welled up from each heart. 

Each has left, soul-liiled, every least, not oueghul moment lost; 
But now, ye'll know, if we do not;, the conllict it has cost, 
For ye must part; and while these scenes are swiftly flying past, 
An under current whispers, too, that this must be the last. 

Old friends, for wliom tliese double feasts have been so nobly planned, 
I ween that hearts so tried and true are not to be unmanned. 
But few the days that wait you here— our years are few at best— 
Ye who laid hence those early friends must soou be lairt to rest. 

But there's a brighter thought tliau ihis, O pilgrim, brave and true! 
A home above, surpa.ssi ng all, is ^:till reserved for you. 
Happy the greeting, glad the home, where change mars not its bliss; 
Where joy is full, and faithful ones ye will not grieve to miss. 

From this ye went with hounding step; with staff iu hand ye come. 
The Shepherd's '-rod and staff" shall guide you to that better home. 
Hopeful ye went, with eye umlimmed; chaugetl is your visage now. 
At that next home-reunion sweet, no sorrows line the bi'ow. 

Ye went fortli young; ye came back old; new youth will I)]os='om there; 
And all that grieved, and all that >v'ore, no more shall grieve or wear. 
This home ye left knew joys and griefs; but love has made it bright; 
That home is happiness unmixed; and love divine its light. 

Hopeful and trusting, llien, old friends, we give the parting iiand; 
Thankful that 'twas our liappy lot to meet this noble band. 
May influence of these precious days best blessings on us .sjied; 
To better deeds, and truer lives, by them may we be ]ei!| 



§2 WADSWORTIl MEIMOllIAL. 

Acdljoii. old heroes of the pat-t, may they light up for rou 
All the bright way to that blest home where ye shall greet an?w. 
Ab<1 they— these later b;indP~for whom ye these rich fields prepared: 
And who in turn prepared for you thepe gifts wliii-li we iiave. ^h!«•ed; 

Afi they haveJpllowed you to this your so loved early lunne. 

So lovely now, in house .uid Held, sure none need Avish t-o retain — 

Wo in that heavenly heritage, nuiy all together share I 

They folloYring you where Jesus went, the niansionsi to prepare; 




WADSVVOKTH MKHolifAL. gg 

V1RJ5T SETTLEMENT OF WAD.SArOKTH ; AXECDOTES, KTC. 
KV SIIEI?:\rAN^ ULOCKEK, OE AKKOX. 

Ill aaaitioii to the. forro-oiiig historical papers, Sherman 
Blocker. E^q.. of Akron, a native, and for inai.v years a 
i-OHideiit of H^adsworHt, had prepared a hnVf statement of 
remiiiisceiioes for the pioneer nieetiiio-, whieli was not pre- 
sented for want of time, and at the r.-qnest of the comi)iIer 
liay be(^n eularo^ed and re-written for thi^ ]n,^torv, as will 
be explained hy the folloAvino- loiter : 

Akron-, Deo. :]0, 1871. 

Kev. Edward J?rown— ^Vfy Dear Sir : 

I herewitJi send yoii, for publication in vour pioneer his- 
Tory of oitr beloved township of ^^adsworth, niv contri- 
bntioii of note- for the same, in accordanee with yonr 
retp.est on the 2(;th inst., and which J have had to conlpile 
and aiTano-c witJiin (hat short space of time, givino- nie no 
time to ]-e-write or revise them. \ have made'up my 
statement from memory of what my father and brothers 
told me many years ago, when a small lad ; and I am aho 
indebted to the late Kenbeu F. Warner, Jacob Miller, and 
JJenjamin Dean, and to other pioneers yetlivino-, for those 
portions of it that happened before T was born ; eo that! 
in the main, it may be relied on as correct, and I havfi 
endeavored in my hasty composition to relate what I hav,- 
in plain, simple I.qn^qrna-e ; and while I know the narrative 
may be subject to criticism, yet T venture to submit it to 
my dear old friends in Wadsworth, and a generous and 
indulgent public. Faithfully your Friend. 

Sherman Blocker. 
The first settlement made in the present boundaries of 
W^adsworth was in 1814, and among the first settlers wert* ' 
the Deans, Durhams, Warners, Jacob Miller, and Samuel 
Blocker. At that time, there was no township organiza- 
tion, but in the year 1810, the present territorv embracing 
Wadsworth and Norton townships, was erected into a 
township, and named Wolf Creek. 



34 WADSWORTH irEi[()I?l A t. 

The first election in the iil)ovc township was in 1816, at 
the house of Philemon Ivirkum, Esq., in what is now Nor- 
ton township, on the town line between Wadsworth and 
Norton townsliips, as at present located. At said meetinjj-- 
of the electors, Henry A^anllyning-, Theodore Parmelee, 
and Salmon \Yarncr were chosen judges, and Pliilemou 
Kirkum clerk of election. An old beaver hat was used, 
in which the ballots a\ ere deposited. The election occu- 
pied but a short time, as there was no discussion about the 
merits of the candidates. Aln-ahani VanHyning, Nathan 
Bates, and Jacob Miller were chosen Trustees ; John Ca- 
how and Daniel Dean, Overseers of the Poor; Reuben 
Warner and Deiuiis Bates, Constables; Christopher Rasor 
and John Bryan, ]'\nice Viewers ; Samuel M. Hayden and 
Gurdon Prior, Listers and Appraisers of Property; Na- 
than Bates, Treasurer ; Salmon Warner, Samuel M. Hay- 
den, John Bryan, John Cahow, and Gurdon Prior, Super- 
visors; Salmon Warner and Henry VanHyning w^ere cho- 
sen Justices of the Peace ; each of the the foregoing offi- 
cers had 22 votes, which constituted the electoral strength of 
Wolf Creek township. The following are the names of 
the electors at that election : Henry VanHyning, James 
Cahow, Lyman Bates, Gnrdon I'ricr, John Bryan, Dennis 
Bates, Christopher Rasor, Oliver Durham. George Cahow, 
Wm. H. Wriglit, Wm. Rasor. Talcott Bates, Christian Rit- 
ter, R. F. Warner, Daniel Ware, John Cahow, Christian 
Everhard, Samuel Blocker. Sanniel M. Hayden, T. H. Par- 
melee, Phineas Barnes, and Pliilemon Kirkum. 

The first death in VV^olf Creek township was that of Seth 
Lucas. Mr. Lucas came to the township in the early part 
of the summer of 1815, and died in the month of Septem- 
ber following. He had erected his cabin on the lot next 
east of Kirkum's. 

The wiiole country was a primitive wilderness. There 
was no sawmill nearer than sixty miles, through an unbro- 
ken forest. Tlie hardy pioneers needed but little timber, 



WAt)SWORTH MJCMOtitAL. 85 

and what they did need, they had to depend on themselves 
to produce. The ax, maul, wedge, and froe were the tools 
used and depended on to produce shingles and puncheons 
with which to supply their limited wants. Tools of every 
kind were very scarce, but, happily, Mr. Lucas had brought 
with him from his New England home a few tools, consist- 
ing of two or three augers, a couple of chisels, one adz, 
froe, handsaw, jackplane, aud two or three gimlets. At 
the death of Mr. Lucas, the question stared each one of his 
fellow-pioneers in the face : Where were the boards to 
come from to make a coffin, and where was the cabinet- 
maker to build it? Let us think of it a moment, and 
transport ourselves back to that period, and imagine our- 
selves in that position. Suppose there Avere only a dozen 
of us together, from a region ten miles square, with no 
cabinet shop to go to for a coffin, no sawmill to make 
boards, and no road to travel on except a path, as it wound 
its lonely way through the dense forest. This is indeed 
but an imperfect picture of the situation in which the 
sympathizing friends of Seth Lucas were placed at his 
decease. The inventive genius of his fellow-pioneers soon 
obviated the seemingly insurmountable obstacle of obtain- 
ing a coffin for their lamented friend. Although there 
were but few of them, and severely feeling the loss of one 
of their number, being thus early cut down in his wilder- 
ness hgme. in the prime of life, they resolved to give him 
as decent a burial as was possible under the circumstances. 
Reuben F. Warner, Daniel Dean, and Benjamin Dean vol- 
unteered to make a coffin. Selecting a large whitewood 
tree, they felled it to the earth, measured the right length 
for the coffin, chopped the log off, and with maul and 
wedge puncheons were split. The broad-ax was then used 
to hew them to the right thickness, after which, the jack- 
plane of their deceased friend put on the finishing touch. 
The body was then arrayed in the habiliments of the grave, 
and dex^osited in the primitive coffin. 



36 WAPswojti^u >n:M(jniAL. 

All tiie pioneerti within (en milos had cohk* to attond his 
j'lmeral, and pxpi'pss their sympathy to Iho lamilV; and lo 
each other, Aiter |)i'ayor and siuijlii.ii'. tlif solemn march 
to the p]a(Mi of sepuh-her licgan. ft was a sad and sohMun 
liineral procession, in the wilderness. Less than twenty 
souls formed the procession, aside from the family of the 
deceased. The cofHn Avas placed in a one-ox cart, and 
hauled throufjch the dense forest about one-fourth of a mile 
east from the cabin, and there, in the lonely forest, depos- 
ited in the silent gTave. A hard-ma])lo tree stands near 
the head of the grave, one of the orioinal forest-trees, left, 
no donht. as a monument to ctmimemorate the place of 
interment. 

This was the first funeral in tlie wildei'!ie.'?.s. and a ren- 
«>rable pioneer, now deceased, who assisted on that occa- 
sion, informed the writer of this sketch, that it was the 
most still and solemn scene he had ever witnessed. Not a 
loud word was spoken, but all were awe-stricken at this 
sudden and unexpected visit of the Kin.!? of Terrors, who 
had sought them out in their wilderness homes, and 
snatched one of their number from their midst. Thus 
died Seth Lucas, and thus he was buried ; the first among' 
as brave and devoted a band of pioneers as ever settled a 
country. 

For the first few years, many of the settlers had to de- 
pend on the wild animalB of the forest for their meat. 
Bears, deer, turkeys, raccoons, wolves, and wildcats, and 
the large, yellow, spotted rattlesnake, together with the 
smaller varieties of game usual to a new country, abound- 
ed by thousands in Wndsworth, and the surrounding ter- 
ritory. 

There are many anecdotes preserved of the hunting- 
exploits and adventures of the early pioneers. There wa!s 
an Englishman of Indian habits, by the name of Holmes, 
fPOTl whom Holmes' Brook derives its n»me., who was an 
early and famous hunter in this region, and among the 



WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 87 

most celebratpfl pioneer liunt('r> were Oriii Looiuis, David 
Blocker, Jolin ^^^aItz, and Phiiieas^Biitler. These men 
were celebrated rangers ot" the wilderness, lithe, har- 
dy, and resolute." and had some perilous adventures with 
the wiM animals of those days. Dressed in buckskin 
breeches, with linsey or linen oversliirts^that reached near- 
ly down to the knees, with [buckskin] moccasins snugly 
fitted to the foot and uukle, witli a leather belt buckled 
about the waist, i)i which Vv-^as a sheath for a tomahawk 
and a stout liunting-knife ; with shot-pouch and powder- 
horn ; with a flint and ''punk" to start up a lire anywhere ; 
with a good rifle, and a couple of well-trained hunting- 
doge, and about a loaf of bread, or "johnny-cake,'' and a 
little salt, these menjwouid sall\ out into the boundless 
forest and dense thickets and swamps, day after day, and 
pursue the bears and deer, with a zest unknown to modern 
spoitsmeii. If they were belated in the^cliase, and night 
overtook them in the woods, they w^ould roll a couple of 
logs together and build a tire, and roast a chunk of bear, 
venison, or turkey, seasoned with thc^salt, which with the 
bread made them a hearty and whob^some meal, and which 
was devoured with^an appetite and^relish unknown to the 
present dyspeptic generation. After flnisMng thejmcal, 
with leaves for their bed, and the starry canopy of the sky 
for a covering, they would lie down and sleep in the for- 
est, wherever night overtook them. 

Many times these men slept in the forest, with the howl- 
ing of wolves, screaming of wildcats, and the hooting of 
the great horned owls all about tliem, whicli dismal music 
lulled them to sleep. The sharp howl of the wolf and 
the mewinii' and screaming of the wildcats w^as pleasant 
music to them, as thev lay bv the fire in the dark woods. 

It was supposed that the late David Blocker, from' the 
year 18i('» to 1833. killed and dressed over SOU deer, within 
the limits of Wadsworlh and adjoining townships ; and as 
fht' rein j or of these rtMninisceuc-es is more familiar \A'ith 



88 Af ADSWOKTII MEMORIAL. 

the hunting exploits of David Blocker (being a brolher) 
than with the others, he will confine himself to a rehearsal 
of some of his adventures in the forest. 

"When quite a little bo)-, the writer can remember when 
David Blocker shot and killed, in one day, six fine deer. 
On one occasion he was hunting deer in the Eiver Styx 
Bottoms, just south of the east and west center road where 
it now passes, accompanied by his two faithful dogs, Cuft' 
and Eange. CuiY was part wolf, and possessed all the cun- 
ning of that animal in a hunt for game, llange was a 
large yellow mastiff; bold and resolute, good natured, and 
obedient to his master, while Cuft' would sneak off slilv 
and hunt on his own account. At the time of which I am 
speaking. Cuff had stolen away, and was ranging tlie 
woods as usual, while liange was carefully following tlie 
footsteps of his master. They had proceeded carefully a 
short distance through the brush, Avhen a noble buck wjis 
discovered, with massive antlers. The hunter took aim, 
pressed the trigger of tlie deadly rifle, and drove a ball 
crashing through the buck. The shot was not fatal, and 
Kange was let go to catch the deer, and being a last 
runner, he soon caught the buck, which turned and gave 
battle to the dog, and in the skirmish got the advantage, 
and by the time his master arrived at the scene of the con- 
flict, had nearly finished the dog, by goring him with his 
■harp horns. Just at this juncture. Cuff', who had heard 
the fight, came bounding uj), and instantly seiz(;d the infu- 
riated buck by the throat, when a desperate struggle 
ensued between the dog and the deer. It resulted in the 
buck getting Cutf under his horns and goring him almost 
to death in a moment. It was now high time for the hun- 
ter to interfere, and save the perishing dogs. He drew his 
hunting-knife, and springing with the agility of a cat up : 
on the deer, dispatched him while he was over the pros- 
trate dogs. l;pon examination of tlie dogs, Cuft' was so 
severly Avoiinded that it was thought he would die on the 



WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 89 

Spot, while Range was eo deeply gashed by tlie horns of 
the buck that a part of his intestines protruded from the 
wounds. With his fingers the hunter pushed back the 
insides, and stopped up the aperture with leaves, and tied 
his handkerchief around th(^ dog, and although he weighed 
upwards of eighty pounds, picked him up tenderly, and 
carried him a mile and a half to a neighbor's house, where 
his wounds were dressed and cared for until he could come 
to his own home, several days atfer. The hunter returned 
to dress the buck, but Cuff was gone, and could not be 
found, but next day came crawling home, to the great joy '■ 
of his master. Both dogs recovered, and did good service 
in hunting. 

About twelve years before this adventure occurred, 
David Blocker had a desperate hand to hand fight with a 
bear, near where Yoder's gristmill now stands, about one 
mile southwest of the Center. It happened about the year 
1817. The cows were wanted, and one of them had a bell 
on, and they would stray along the brooks and swails for 
tood, and David Blocker went in pursuit of them without 
his rifle, or weapon of any kind, which was strange, for in 
those days of pioneer life, few persons ventured from 
their cabins without the trusty rifle, and pouch filled Avith 
balls and powder, ready for business. 

The trail of the cattle led down Blocker's Creek, and 
when he got near where the first mill stands he passed near 
a large treetop which had fallen the season before, when 
the leaf was in full growth, and in its fall had crushed a 
numfcer of small saplings, which together formed a thick 
nlass of leaves and brush, making a cozy home for a wild 
animal; and sure enough, as he was walking around this 
bevy of treetops, out rushed a large, haggard looking 
black bear, right at him, with ponderous jaws wide oj en. 
ready to seize him on the spot. Having no weapon with 
him, and having no means of defense except his hands, and 
twQ small dogs about as large as raccoonS; and being shod 



90 WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 

with Indian moccasins, and a swift runner, he concluded 
to run for his life, and thus escape the ugly embrace of the 
bear ; but Mrs. Bruin was too fast for him, and he had to 
turn and fight, and dodge about as best he could, to keep 
out of the clutches of the sharp claws and ponderous 
mouth of the bear, which seemed determined to destroy 
him on the spot. In his extremity he got behind a tree, 
and ran around it with all his might, with the furious 
brute close at his heels. The day was hot, and in that 
dense forest extremely sultry, and he was fast losing his 
breath and strength, when his two little dogs, heari^i^ the 
fu&s, came bravely to the rescue of their master. ♦ The lit- 
tle iellows seized the bear in the rear and tugged and 
bit with such vigor that the monster would have to stbp 
and whirl round and brush them off, as one would a fly or 
mosquito from the hand or face, and then instantly renew 
the chase to catch the hunter. But these momentary lull^ 
in that close and desperate chase gave him a moment for 
fresh breath, and reflection what to do in that desper- 
ate condition of afiairs; but it would only be for a mo-^ 
ment, when the angry brute would renew the chase with 
increased rage and growls. Finding that with all his pow- 
erful exertions to escape her, she would seize him, he 
broke for a larger tree, with the bear close to his heels, -and 
the little dogs doing all they could to help their master.- 

It now seemed to him that he must give up, and be torn 
to pieces by the ferocious brute. Being taint from the tre- 
mendous exertions of nerve and mind to keep out of the 
clutch of the bear, he felt that his time had come, and his 
heart and frame shuddered at the thought of being-mimgled 
to death by an animal he would not have feargd to encbitn- 
ter if he had had his hunting-knife in hand. The little 
fist-like dogs seemed to know, at tliis gurictlire, the peril 
and fatigue of their master, for they pitclfed at the bear 
with renewed vigor, and made such good use of their 
sharp teeth that the bear had tq turn and tussle with them 



WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 

long enough to give their master a little respite, and new 
breath ; but the moment she had freed herself of the dogg, 
she again came at him with increased rage, and it required 
his utmost exertions to keep clear of her jaws. 

The "iime had now come when something besides run- 
ning had to be done, or he would certainly fall a victim to 
her^rage. He had no time to spring up a small tree, and 
e\%y moment his strength was failing him, while from the 
biting and worrying of the little dogs, the rage of the bear 
seemeUto be increased. ' He watched his chance, and ran 
to another tree near by, with the bear close to his heels. 
In looking about for a club, or anything with which to 
defend himself, he espied a stick cut off a young hickory, 
which had been cut by some one to make a splint broom. 
It was within twenty feet of him— a good, sound club, 
about three feet long ; and O, if he could only get thia 
club ! Encouraging his little dogs to seize hold of the 
bear, when on the side of the tree next to the stick, he 
sprang for it with all his might, and picked it up and 
darted behind another small tree, just as the bear was 
ready to grasp him with her paws and mouth. The brut« 
now raised upon her hind legs, to grab him with her paws 
around the tree. With all his remaining strength, he 
stepped to^ the side of the tree and with the club in 
both hfends, aimed a blow at her head, when, quick as a 
flashy the "bear met the club with one of its paws and 
knocked it clear out of his hands, several feet away. He 
ru*shted for his club and just got it, when the monster again 
rai%i on her hind legs to clasp him with her paws, her 
mouth wide open, ready to tear him to pieces. Summon- 
ing all his powers for another desperate effort to strike her 
head with his club, she again met the descending blow 
with her paw and directed it from hitting her snout ; but 
iu its descent it struck the point of her under jaw and broke 
it off. Another blow followed this, and with a roar of 
rage the bear sprang to a large oak close by, and crawled 



92 Wadsworth memorial. 

up to its forks, completely beat out at last in this struggle 
of life and death. 

The eonsciousness of safety from this tremendous fight, 
and the great fatigue produced by the mental and physical 
strain on the system, so overcame the hunter that he went 
into a sort of swoon, and lay in a dreamy and partially 
unconscious condition for a number of minutes, before he 
was able to return to his home, where he got his rifle, a,nd 
with his father, Samuel Blocker, Israel Ritter, and Jacob 
Miller, returned to the scene of the conflict. 

The faithful little dogs had staid at the foot of the tree^ 
barking up at the ])ear, which had not come down. Tak- 
ing aim, a bali irom his rifle went crashing through her 
head and killed her. Three beautiful cubs, nearly as large 
as raccoons, were found in the treetop, which acconnted 
for her fierceness. 

At another time, David Blocker, in company with In- 
dian Holmes, was in pursuit of a huge bear, with a pack of 
six dogs. The bear was a clumsy runner, and the dog8 
soon brought him to bay at the foot of a great sycamore 
tree. With his ponderous paws he would brush the dogs 
away as if they were mere insects, and one or two of the 
dogs who did not understand bear tactics, especially wheu 
it is close quarters, in their eagerness to seize the bear by 
the throat, got themselves within good reach of his paws^ 
and were struck by him with such force that they tiimbled 
away, heels over head into the weeds, howling and yelling 
with pain and rage, and could not be tempted to again get 
themselves within reach of those dangerous bear-haAd«r, 
which had left the imprint of their claws in their tough 
hides. Bracing his back against a tree, he bade defiance 
to his enemies. The hunters came up, but could not shoot 
him for fear of hitting some of the dogs, which kept 
jumping at him continually. Holmes had an Indian battle 
ax, heavier than a tomahawk, with which Blocker pro- 
posed to go behind the tree, and dart suddenlv around and 



WjLl>SWORTfi MEMORIAL. 

Bii^lL% t|k« .b«w* in, the head and knock him down, and 
wh^n oac« 4owiji, with the aid of the dogs, they could eas- 
ily dispatch himi Holmes looked upon it as a dangerous 
nndertftkitif, and said he would have his rifle cocked, 
resdj to ftw in8t«iitly at the bear, if anything went 

Blocker sprang around the tree, but stumbled over one 
of the dogs as he was in the act of striking the bear, and 
only gove Mm a slight blow as he fell headlong in front of 
the 1^M% which Instantly seized him by the thigh, witli the 
gpjsed of ft tiger. Holmes, who was ready, sprang up, and 
placing itifi muzxle of his gun close to the ear of the bear, 
sent an Qunfe ball through his head, whicli killed him on 
thft epQt,b*|tore lie had fairly closed his teeth on the leg. 
The marTcs- of th>t bite were carried to the grave. They 
found this to |)e |he largest bear they had ever seen, and es- 
tiaiftted Win to Weigh 500 pounds. 

At anothe*" , time, meat became exceedingly scarce, in 
consequence of the game all leaving the neighborliood ; 
and the want of this indispensable article to the pioneer, 
produced a lamehtable aching about the stomach of each. 
Bnddenly, one. Sunday afternoon while David Blocker 
wa» lying on- a bed of deer and bearskins, in the cabin, the 
dogs sang out? "^Turkeys!" and bounding otl' his bed and 
seizing the rifle and shot-pouch, he rushed to the door just 
in time to see the turkeys flying and alighting among the 
trees in ev*ry direction from the cabin ; for the dogs had 
rushed a^iDnj^ tliem at first sight, and kept uji a tremen- 
douf din of bpwlfl and yells at the turkeys, while the rifle 
went crabk; craGk, as fast as he could load and shoot, until 
sixteen fat turKey* had fallen before liis unerring aim. By 
this t\me the flock had disappeared, and in their place 
came Judge Brown (father of Rev. Edward). Esq. Salmon 
Warner, Reuben F.Warner, and Jacob Miller (father of 
Qm}u ICiUWr Biq.r Ot Akron) ; all of whom had been at a 
^ffiyftTrpm^i^mf, fl K«q. Warner's, half a mile east of where 






94 W ADSWORTH MEMORlAt^ .. . . 

the turkey shooting took place; anct'^hi^'^meewiig, .Wa§ 
about closing when they heard tl^isuccfes8it^e!y'i|iii.clcy 
sharp reports of tlie rille, and knew-Jt.iViteant^gajiLd;-' As' *;> 
they were all in want of meat, they gladly; 'ai)^<^hVftiki5td1y -'i 
accepted twelve out ot the sixteen turkeys killed ' ol*:^h»t / 
occasion. -• ■■■ ■■' v^^' '-^i ^'"*\'^ h y 

Let no one infer from this that the pi^ne^*^,<andfln(lellT 

' . ■ *•. '* ■ • , > _*■• , • 

mentioned above, approved the dctest{ib}er^3rftf^tice;^fSuij- , 
day hunting and shooting, as now carried ^n'^^^'fa--'! ay ^es$.^ 
class, seeming determined to ruin the mbral^^i^r tk\s.poun- 
try. On the contrary, the necessity of the^<im'e^*juf?'Uficcl. ^ 
the act; for, let me here sav, while tliei-e^ero'^me thfeofij 
logical differences of opinion, yet taken «s '<a^*'t;pnxmiinity! 
together, there never was a more h.onorafelerui>^ht, aiid^ 
conscientious set of people found on this b^oad c6iitihent, 
tlian were the early pioneers of Wadswoi'ltM' ;-'''•%. ^;'; '■ ' 

It would be unfair to draw comparisons-M thi'jivmeij'tal 
attainments and theological viewSj for^'they 6ari3pfe vfroni i^ 
widely separated portions of the Uniqit,^arid l>i'0|ight the>>i^U 
ideas of manhood, civilization, mental'attailim^j^ts, fti^ 'ii|i; 
theological notions which prevailed in 7jne'restp^rv:^i|p--=*H v?i 
gions from whence they came. For thiej- 'fir&t'itiMie,p6iy 
haps, in the settlement of a new coun1?5(i'^,9>Jf' EngHnd^' 
Central New York, Pennsylvania, MaryjAfeid,*iiilsi| Virginia" • 
came together in a new region of colihtry'^^^w^ithj^d^rget ;» 
ideas about many things ; but in themainjii^in^oiifeing^p.^-- 
on the great things that go to iliake' .]Jj>7goybd"^jiAen afnd-. 
women, and good communities.' Sen-e^ 4hle^'T3ioneei;^^ -^pf^^^ 
Wads worth were as a unit in promottiig §"^€11 pthei*'swel^-'^: 
fare and happiness. Each seeking to^i-i^o*^^ aiicfc'woi^k.iJB'^ 
that sphere best calculated to render ithe most &6o(3< and hi 
which he was born and reared. 'V\ ^ ..>/ •*'*' . " 



At first there may have been somedistrust ^fc^tft in ay^r^' 
short time all distrust, if any, that pfie secljl^njlisuk^f tlie. 
other, vanished into thin air as soon as £hgy j^i^ie td kA'ow/ 
each other ; and soon, the mass of early pioneers came to 



■{;■> 



WADSWOJRTH MEMORIAL. 95 

be |ike,,brptliers and sisters, promoting each other's wel- 
fpe iil!^ii;possible"w^ys. Would to God that such a spirit 

•bqV pjt'eyiiled, among all the people as ruled the mass of 
-plonjeei^ .iii ,Wadsw:orth, fifty to sixty years ago ! 

■v-'.ThoseoJfHhe^pariy pioneers who came from Maryland, 
OPennsylvania,' and Virginia mostly settled in the south 

''half- Of tjife to.WHship ; while those from the Eastern States 
located f^aihly: in th6 north half of the township ; thus for 
d, fcort tifn^^maki'rig the east and west center road a sort of 
^-Masdn and-Dixon's line." But this, as before remarked, 
was'Of vei-y-short duration, for a social comity and pure 
friendshi:^ soon cemented them together in a common bond 

erf, brbth'ei-hx^di . 

.'Tlte early ^pioneers of the south part of the township 
taking- the eflst and tvest center road as the boundary, were 
the DQai«i^^Waniel-s Durhams, Christian Bitter, Daniel 
.Ware, Israel Ritter,' Adam Baughman, Lorenzo Baughman, 
Henry* Falconer, Jacob Miller, Samuel Blocker, Christian 
EVfei:hax-dpSa^iuel. M. Hayden, Benjamin Simcox, James 
Re^d, Sain u'^L Ffilconer, Adam Smith, Jacob Smith, John 
:feverhW, Jonathan Everhard (now of Sharon), and their 
fatheilJaVobrivfi'rhard ; James Giftbrd, Geo. Rasor, Chris- 
tiari\Rasor,;".>^t(>fel'^'Rasor, Wm. Rasor, Wm. Simcox, and 

H(^iii*y RittQi';'' 

rMost'bf.^thesep^^ lield divine worship in 

•the exireme sotitheast part of the township, where a meet- 
ing' house'had been' erected by the joint eftbrts of the pio- 
neers of'mi-tonf fehippeAva, and Wadsworth townships, 
^^ ill whieil two, and' perhaps three, denominatio}ial forms of 
worship wpi-e maintained. But I maybe mistaken about 
this;.neitl^er anil certain whether the first house of reli- 
(rious- worship stood on the Wadsworth side, or just across 
the voha in- Cl^ipp.QWa ; and it is not material on which side 
it didvkaiid.; n^^^^ it material whether one or more 

religioSus creeds w^re taught and maintained there. It is 
^ii9Ugi.io say,;that,tlxe pioneers who assembled there for 






96 WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 

divine worship were as pious, as honeBt^fttl'd'lil'g'ood'cHr^rjr 
clay Christians as ever assembled in a meetl]fg«)tOttte^ Attd 
while they were generally unobtrusive in ib«ir tfAbitfi tuid 
tastes, and unwilling to thrust themeelTes UitlftSrA In th6 
early administrative affiiirs of the township, yet th«y did 
their full part toward its physical and intellectual derelop- 
mejits, and are entitled to an award of jnst "ftttd equal 
praise to everything that went to the rapid and tro^erful- 
ly developed history of the township. 'No one Will ^nes- 
tion this. Neithei- in making up this do I seek to mstkls an 
invidious distinction, or draw comparisons Of Vbe chai*flc« 
teristics of the early pioneers of the totmebip. 1 Virt^h in 
my feeble way to do justice to the memory of th'0««*nobl6 
men and women, most of whom I can ' fenidtnb^r ; and 
this article would be entirely incomplete witbont referencii 
in a more open manner to the women wbo^tflBrd'ifaie WiVM 
of the early pioneers of the township. 

They were indeed helpmates, in eVer^ ' I$efi8e ' ef tbat 
word. They not only discharged their dntiea to ihecabina 
of their husbands, but bravely went into tbe WoOdl8**rid 
fields, and labored with their husbands 'to sabduetlie '"for- 
est, and convert the grounds into blootlrting fitXxXt. ^<St 
many years they spun and wove, and indde most <$f tji'e 
cloth worn by the family ; and they never shrilnic from'ds- 
sistiug in-doors and out-doors as Was needed, abd' it ts not 
too much to say that to these mothers belong ttost of tb'4 
praise for the morality and piety Of ttie'to^jnof^ihip, in its 
early liistory, and for the impress of thoeeVi*1;w6s Which 
still cling to some of their descendants. '^ 

But I must close. I am loth to do '80, fOTsitice I 'com- 
menced this writing, it has seemed as if my b^ftH" Would 
burst while thinking back thirty to fO'rty-flYe y^rs, in 
which time I knew these men and vrom^, and knetv them 
only to love and adore them. And tb^Se metnoriljs of 
them cling about my heart like sweet clUfttCts dfilOWCrs, 
which I pray may never lose their fra'gpttinc« i^ 'ftenhiiess ^ 



WADSWORTII MEMORIAL. 97 

Nearly all of tliein have yielded up their spirits to Him 
who gave them, and their mortal remains have been con- 
signed to mother earth. Blessed be their memory forever ! 
as I hope and believe that each one is in immortal bliss, in 
that better state, set apart for all who love the Lord. 

Among those that I have mentioned, the following pio- 
neers are still living: Jonathan Everhard, of Sharon; 
George Rasor and wife,* of Wads worth : Mrs. Nancy Har- 
ter, of New Portage, late widow of John Everhard ; Mrs. 
David Loutzenheiser, of Sharon ; George Miller, Esq., of 
Akron; Mrs. Lydia Franks, of Doylestown ; Henry Rit- 
ter, and perhaps otliers unknown to me. 

In the early part of the settlement of the township, rat- 
tlesnakes were plenty ; and in one day, at a den of the 
snakes, Samuel Blocker and Jacob Miller killed 128 yellow 
spotted rattlesnakes. At another time, when my father, 
Samuel Blocker, w^as reaping wheat, he cut off a monster 
rattlesnake's head with his sickle, which probably struck at 
his hand just as he had gathered in the wheat straw to cut 
it oir, for he did not see or know anything of the snake 
until he had drox)ped his bunch in its place, and finding 
the snake headless, looked in his handful of wheat, when lo ! 
there was his snakeship's head, as handsomely cut olf as if 
done by a surgeon. 

At another time, my brother David, in pursuing a 
wounded bear, encountered one of the largest rattlesnakes 
ever killed in Medina county. It was in this way : He 
met a buck, jumping and snorting, with his hair bristled 
up, and his eyes all aglow as if in some great trouble and 
anger. He jumped and stamped, without moving much 
out of his place. My brother walked up within two rods 
of the deer, and as the buck paid no attention to him, but 
kej)t on snorting and jumping up and down, he leveled 
his rifle at liiin, but stopped a moment to reflect on his sin- 
gular appearance ; when about half way between him and 

*X)ied Jan. 22, 1875. 



98 WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 

the stamping deer, arose up out of the dense growtli of 
wild peavines, the head and neck of the largest snake he 
had ever seen in all his life. The serpent hissed and 
darted his iiery eyes and tongue at my brother and then at 
the deer, as if at a loss which to attack ; for he was ready 
for fight. Almost in a twinkling the fatal rifle Avas directed 
from the deer towards the head of the snake and dis- 
chariied, and when the smoke had cleared away all was 
still, for the deer only bounded oft* two or three jumps, 
and then turned and looked back at the place where the 
huge serpent lay. My brother loaded his gun, and taking 
a stick, carefully separating the vines so as to see through 
them, advanced with fear and trend)ling to the spot where 
he had seen its head. Here he I'ound the vines bespattered 
with blood and bits of bone and flesh, by which he knew 
he had struck the reptile with a fatal shot. Separating the 
vines, there, all coiled up nicely, lay the serpent, with his 
head torn and shattered all to pieces. 

As soon as he saw the head, what reinained of it, as per- 
fectly harmless, he reached down to take the rattles, when, 
as he touched the tail, what remained of the head quick as 
a flash darted up, serpent like, and struck the back of his 
hand, covering and besmearing it with its warm blood, 
which so frightened him that he fainted. When he revived , 
carefully washing his hand he found no scar or break in 
the skin and knew that he had not been bitten. He took a 
string of 21 rattles from that snake ; and the buck walked 
away in a majestic manner, seemingly satisfied, and was 
not molested by my brother. 

About the year 1818, Samuel Blocker had a valuable 
mare and colt which were attacked by bears and driven oft 
the point of a rock, on the north fork of the sawmill dam. 
a few rods west of the house and lot now owned l>y Wm. 
Brouse. It was nearly sixteen feet down perpendicularly, 
at that time, where the mare and colt lay crushed by the 
fall, and the indications were that one or more bears had 



WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 99 

gradually driven them closer and closer, iDitil they both 
pitched off the i)recipice and perished. 

Samuel Blocker was the first tailor in the township, and 
cut and made j)ants at from forty-five to sixty cents per 
])air, and coats and vests in proportion. lie learned his 
( rade in Baltimore. 

Hiram C. Kinosbnrv was the first blacksmith in the 
township, and acquired fame and reputation as an ax- 
maker for the pioneers of the surrounding toAvnships. 

In the pioneer times, produce was wonderfully low in 
price, as compared with present rates, and all sorts of mer- 
chandise was very high. Wheat was sold at from twenty- 
tive to thirty cents per bushel, for articles of necessity. 
Luxuries were not to be tliought of. Pork, dressed, was 
$1.00 to $1.25 per 100 pounds, and as fat beef as was ever 
ottered in market, sold at one and a half to three cents per 
[)ound, bntter at six to nine cents, eggs at two to three 
cents per dozen, and all other articles of farm productions 
at corresponding rates ; and at these prices no money was 
paid, but merchandise taken at from 100 to 300 per cent, 
higher prices than prevail at this day. It is a wonder how 
the pioneers got along as comfortably as they did. 

At the time Judge Brown came to the township, he 
brought a small chest of medicines with him, which were 
of great value to the pioneers, for " Aunt Chloe " was 
always reaily to distribute the contents ot her medicine 
chest with a lavish hand, as long as she had an article left 
with wdiich to relieve her sick neighbors. When any of 
them got sick, Aunt Chloe was sent for^, and, all things con- 
sidered, she was about as successful a practitioner as any, 
for she would never receive a cent as a fee, and never in- 
jured her patients with wrong prescriptions. * * * * 



To these hunting adventures related by Mr. Blocker, it 
may especially interest our young readers to add one or 



200 WADSWOilTH MEMORIAL. 

two more, to show what were both the peril and the sport 
attending- not only the hmiting expeditions, but the every 
day life of the hardy pioneer. 

In 1819, the settlers of Wadsworth had turned out to 
chop the road through the unsettled township north, then 
known as "Hart and Mather's town," to meet a similar 
company from Granger, halfway ; thus making- an outlet to 
Cleveland. While thus engaged, one of the Bruin family 
put in an appearance, probably to inquire the meaning of 
this invasion of his ancestral domain. Several dogs, which 
liad acconiiianied their masters, immediately left oti' all 
their petit (contentions over minor dogmas, and made com- 
mon cause against their common enemy. The bear showed 
desperate tight, rising upon his haunches and beating back 
the dogs. Orin Loomis ran up, and, to protect the dogs, 
stuck his ax into the bear's mouth, while Judge Brown, 
coming immediately behind him, struck his ax into the 
bear's head, and the other choppers soon dispatched him 
with their axes ; and each at evening returned home witli 
a large piece of bear meat; no small item, in the general 
scarcity of i)rovisions at that period. 

To this we will add the story of a bear-tight by C)rin Loo- 
mis and Phineas Butler, and of a conflict with a wolf by 
Ijeonard Brown, as published by Aaron Bai'dee, Esq., in 
the Wadsworth Enterprise, in 1806. 

In the fall of 1823, as Butler and Loomis were returning- 
after midnight from one of their hunts, and had arrived 
within a mile or two of home, it was noticed that the 
dogs Avere missing. Presently, a noise was heard, far back 
in the rear. 

"Hark! What was that?" said Loomis. They listened 
awhile, and agreed it was the dogs, sure. " Orr, let's go 
back," said Butler. "No." answered Loomis, "it is too 
late." "But," said Butler, " FU bet the dogs are after a 
bear ; don't you hear old Beaver ? It sounds to me like 
the bark of old Beaver, when he is after a bear." 



WadsvVorth memorial. 101 

Butler was bound to go back, and so they started. The 
scene of the disturbance was finally reached, after travel- 
ing two or three miles. The dogs had found a bear, sure 
enough ; but it was in the middle ot Long Swamp, and tlie 
alders were so thick that there was scarcely room for man 
dog, or bear to get tlirough. This did not deter Phin But- 
ler, however. They got near enougli to find out that the 
bear was stationed on a spot a little drier than the main 
swamp, surrounded by alder bushes, and that she was de- 
termined not to leave it. The dogs would bay up close, 
when the old bear would run out after them. They would 
retreat, and then she woidd go ])ack to her nest again. 

"We can't kill her to-night," said Loomis, "we will have 
to go home, and come down again in the morning."' "No,'' 
replied Butler, "I am afraid she will getaway. We can 
kill her to-night, I guess. You can go and hiss on the dog's 
on ane side, and I will come up on the other; and when 
she runs out after them, I'll cut her back-bone off with the 
ax." They concluded to try this plan, and came very near 
succeeding. As the old bear rushed past, Butlei- put the 
whole bit of the ax into her back, but failed to cut the 
back-bone by an inch or so. Enraged and desperate, she 
sprang upon the dogs, who, embohlened by the presence 
of the hunters, came too close. With one of her enormous 
paws she came down on old Beaver, making a large wound 
in his side, which nearly killed him. Tie was hardly able 
to crawl out of the swamp. 

The fight was then abandoned until the next morning, as 
without Beaver to lead the other dogs, it was useless to 
proceed. It was difilcult to get the old dog home, but he 
finally got well. ICarly in the morning the liunters were 
on the ground. This time they had their guns with them, 
but found Ihe old bear was gone. On examining her nest 
of the night before, her unusual ferocity was explained. 
She had a litter of cubs, which, however, she had suciteeded 
in removing, and must have carried them ofl'in her mouth. 



102 WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 

In a short time the dogs had tracked her out. She was 
found half a mile lower down the swamp, where she liad 
made a new nest. Butler's rifle soon dispatched her, hut 
her cubs, four in number, and not more than three or four 
weeks old, were taken alive, and kept for pets. * * * 

The following account of Leonard Brown's wolf-light is 
given in his own words : 

It was in the month of June, 1827, a full moon and a 
clear night. I was 17 years old. About eleven o'clock a I 
night I was awakened by the barking of the dog, which 
was a common occurrence, and we always went to his re- 
lief, and generally found that he had treed either a raccoon, 
a wildcat, a porcupine, an opossum, or a fox. (The gray 
foxes would climb trees as readily as cqons). Tin's time 
his barking was unusually earnest. I got out of bed and 
]uit on my pants, but nothing more. Bareheaded and bare- 
tooted, I took my ax and started for the dog. When with- 
in a few rods of the spot, I found it was in the northeast 
corner of the field, where stood a sapling about twelve 
feet high. Supposing the game to be on that sapling, J 
could get on the fence and dislodge it from the tree, know- 
ing that the dog would take it as soon as it reached tlie 
ground. I therefore laid down the ax and proceeded with- 
in a rod of the place, when a large animal made an attem])t 
to jump the fence, but the dog caught it by the thigh and 
brought it back. It then tried to make its escape across 
the field, but the dog caught it by the neck, when it turned 
and gave battle. I then discovered that it was a wolf, 
much larger than the dog, and as they reared upon their 
hind legs like two dogs in a fight, I caught the wolf by his 
hind legs, and with the help of the dog laid him on his 
back; but his jaws 'flew to the right and left so quick, it 
was very difficult for the dog to get a safe hold. I thouglit 
I had best get my ax as soon as possible, as I had no knife. 
So I started for the ax, but before I had gone ten feet, the 
dog cried out in great agony. I knew he was hurt, so I 



WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 103 

picked up a stick and went back. The wolf was on top. 
1 cauglit him again by the legs and laid him on his back, 
and by holding- his leg with one hand, I jammed the stick 
into his mouth with the other, and by that means enabled 
the dog to fasten to him by the throat. After I had care- 
fully examined the dog's hold and found all right, feeling 
assured that if he got away he would take the dog along, 
I hastened for my ax. When I returned, I found the^ 
wolf on his feet, and the dog on his back, the dog still 
keeping his hold. On my approach the wolf made a des- 
perate etfort to escape, wiiicli brought the dog to his feet. 
He then laid the wolf on his back without my help. 1 
then tried to knock the wolf in the head, but dared not 
strike for fear of hitting the dog; and fearing the dog 
would give out, as he seemed nearly exhausted, as the 
wolf lay on his back I aimed a blow between his hind legs, 
and supposed I had succeeded in cleaving the hips, but 
it proved I had only wounded him in one thigh. 

The wolf then lay still, and I thought him dead. I bade 
the dog to let go his hold. He refused. I then put one 
foot on the wolf, and took the dog by the nape of the 
neck with one hand and struck him with the other. The 
dog flew back as if there was a snake there, and the wolf 
Jumped up suddenly and attacked me. His jaws came 
together very near my neck, but the dog instantly caught 
him by the throat. I then struck him on the head with 
my ax, breaking the skull ; and the dog released his hold of 
his own accord. 

It was a black wolf of the largest size, measuring from 
the extremity of the fore to the hind foot, seven feet 
and nine inches. The dog was bitten through the thick 
part of the fore leg. I was minus a shirt — some scratched 
about the breast, with a slight wound on my left arm 
made by the wolfs teeth. Leonard Brown. 

******** 



104 WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 

The forej^oiiig pages liave been devoted to tlie early, or 
l)ioiiccr ijistory of the township ; and as they were chiefly 
inaclc up from papers prepared with reference to the pio- 
neer celebration, by several individuals, each writing inde- 
pendently of the others, there is necessarily some repeti- 
tion that at times may have been tiresome to the reader. 
But as it was intended to be a book of reliable records, for 
reference in future years, it was thought best to let each 
go in just as the writer prepared it, in his own words and 
style. The reader will perceive that the historical part is 
thus far confined to the twenty-five vears succeeding 
the tirst settlement, bringing the annals of the town down 
to the year 1840. 

This closes the pioneer history ; designed to give a 
brief review of the character of the first settlers, of their 
hibor, sacrifices, and sult'ering done and endured in reclaim- 
ing what was a vast, unbroken forest, and preparing it for 
an abode of enterprise, prosperity, refinenicnt, and intelli- 
gence, with educational, social, and reJigious institutions, 
and growing and pleasant villages. 

The remainder of the history will be devoted to its sub- 
sequent growth and prosperity, with a sketch of what it 
now is, together with a brief view of the earlier and later 
history of the adjoining townships, making up the coun- 
1 ry of which Wadsworth is the center. 



WAD6WORTH MEMORIAL. 105 

WESTEBV STAR. 

The village bearing this name, situated on the township 
line, abont equally in Wadsworth and jS'orton, 2)4 mile* 
east of WadBworth village, so long a rival to Wadsworth 
inlhe competition for the chief center of bueiuees for the 
irurrounding country, deserves a notice at this stage of our 
history. 

About 1816-18, tive brothers by the name of Richards- 
Mills, Ezckiel. Henry, William {Steward, and William Gul- 
den— came tVom Norfolk, Connecticut. The two eldest 
locating just upon the west line of Norton, and the others 
m Wadsworth. Soon after came their father, Jedediah 
Richards, and his youngest sons, Julius and George W., 
and still later, his eldest sons, Jedediah, jr., and Robert 
t7»her. 

At tiie time of the establishment of the mail route from 
Canton to Nor walk, via Medina, post-offices were estab- 
lished on the west lines of Norton and Wadsworth, there 
being offices at New Portage and at Medina. Capt. Mills 
Mebards was api)ointed post-master at the tirst named 
office, and the office called Western Star. 

About 1824, Julius Richards erected a dam upon Dean's 
Brook, for turning and sawing, and built a wagon and cab- 
inet shop that for that period did a large business. He 
subsequently built a sawmill, run from the same dam. 

About 1825, the Richards brothers having exchanged 
farms, settled around the same locality and laid out a vil- 
lage, with the avowed design, by united effort, of making 
it the chief place of business. The first store of goods 
and merchandise between New l*ortagc and Harrisville. 
was that of Henry E. Morgan k Co., at Western Star.* 
But not finding the location as good as he anticipated, he 
goon moved away. 

A. and J. Pardee about that time set up a store on the 
bill east of the present limits of Wadsworth village, which 



2 05 WADS WORTH MEMORIAL. 

for a time supplied all the wants of the surrounding coun- 
try. 

' In 1828, Robert U. Richards (known as Usher Richards) 
6ame to Western Star. He was a man -of inVentive gen- 
ius, and had perfected and patented a process of turning 
hollow wooden ware, such as pails, firkins, half-bushels 
and peck measures, and Wooden bottles, entire, from 
a round log. In company with his brother, W. Steward 
Richards, he built a large factory for the manufacture of 
such ware, on the Wads worth side of the village, run by 
steam. He died from an accident, in Jan.,. 1830, ; 

The business was for a time carried on quite extensively 
by his brother, and his son Robert. But the ware proved 
impracticable, because of its liability toxrack in seasoning, 
it being found impossible to dry a stick of timber uniform- 
ly through. So the business ran down and was abj^h- 
doned. The building was afterwards used as a hat factory 
-by Shaw & Griswold. 

In 1829, three brothers, Alfred, Augustus, and Alexander 
Griswold, under the name of A. and A. Griswold, erected 
a large store building, and opened an extensile store of 
goods, and made a clearing of severa-l hundred acres of 
land on a large tract owned by theni near the. village, and 
another in Sharon. But in 1831, failing in bnsitiess, they 
made an assignment of their store and jands. 

Atterwards, mcrchantile business was established at 
Western Star by their brother, Dudly Griswold. Subsc- 
quentlv bA' Dudlv and William Griswold and San ford I). 
Clark, under the name of Griswolds and Clark. Another 
was for a time carried on by J^zekiel Richards aiid Hari'y 
Lucas. ., 

Dr. Samuel Austin, a i)hysician of considerable note, 
located at Western Star in 1828, and Dr. A. Fisher, now of 
Chicago, and for a time his partner, Dr. Amos Warner? 
bafl an extensive medical praetice. 

From their first location as villages, Western. Star and 



WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 107 

Wadsworth maintained a rivalry for the . supremacy as 
centers of business, with about equal results and equal 
population, till the location of the railroad depot at Wads- 
worth caused it to distance its rival. But Western Star 
has always been a pleasant village, with an enterprising- 
and thriving population, and from the nearness of its 
location may be considered a part of the same community.' 
It has two well supplied stores, a tannery, a pump factory 
and other manufactures, and an excellent public school. 

As an illustration of the difterence between the old and 
thie new in the lifetime of one generation, it may interest 
the readers of these pages to inform them that Julius 
Richards, mentioned above, introduced from the East 
what was then (1823.) a great improvement in the consti'uc- 
tion of coffins ; fastening the lid with screws instead of 
nails, and with hinges above the breast to let the top 
down. The initials of the name, and the age, were also set 
wath brass-headed trunk nails. 

A fact has also been related to the compiler, since clos- 
ing the pioneer history, that will come in well at this 
point. On the death' of Mrs. Julia Loomis, near Western 
Star, in 1820, MV. J. Miller, in making the coffin, could 
lind but 18 nails in Wadsworth; and Mr. PhineaS Butler, 
on the night before, by the light of a torch, drew out 14 
more from the boards of his new house. Those nails he 
had brought with him from Onondaga county, New York, 



iQg WADSWOBtH MEMOBIAL. 

WAD8WORTH FROM 1840 TO I860. 

The next twenty years after the pioneer eia were the 
least eventt\il in the history of the town ; the farmB being 
cleared up, and the known material resources developed, 
there was little scope for new enterprises. The most that 
could be expected of a country village in such circumstan- 
ces is that it should hold its own. And it is here that the 
value of right beginning's in a new settlement is alway* 
seen. When the novelty of pioneer life has passed away ; 
when the difl'ering races have begun to coalesce, and a gen- 
eration growji up together have become harmonious; it' 
that generation have not deteriorated, the fruit testifies for 
the seed planted. In this we see the value of the planting 
of churches and the founding of schools, in the inception 
of a settlement ; for, though the population may gradually 
change, still their influence is felt upon succeeding genera- 
tions. 

Every one who has gone through the vicissitudes of pio- 
neer life is aware of the fact that its tendency is to beget a 
spirit of adventure, to the extent that comparatively but 
few of the first settlers of a frontier town, or their chil- 
dren, whose earliest impressions were amid the adventui*- 
OU6 beginnings, are known to remain and spend their livejj 
there. Especially is this true of those of Anglo Saxon, or 
Celtic origin. So that the same individuals are often found 
among the a<l venturous ft-ontiersmen in two or more 
States: ot\en moving on till old age overtakes them upon 
the frontier. 

The compiler of this work is himselt an illustration of 
this. Though returning after an absence of nearly thirty - 
five years, to be the chronicler of the place where he spent 
his youth, during the interval he has been no le»s than six 
times, and in four difierent States, auiong tho»e who 
would be accounted pioneers of the settlement. Even on 
hii way to address the pioneer meeting, the history of 



WAD9WORTH afEMOEIAf.. 109 

which has been given, he was solicited to stop in another 
State, where he spent the first ten years and address a sim- 
ilar gathering, on the same week, being claimed as a pio- 
neer there also. 

The rapid opening of the States of the interior, west- 
ward of Ohio, became an incentive to new emigration, to 
such as had been among the first settlers, or their children 
who had grown up while as yet all things were new. This 
period was consequently marked by great changes of pop- 
ulation ; so great that many names of the old lamilies that 
counted not a few upon the poll books and muster rolls, 
nearly or quite disappeared. Particularly was this true of 
the New England portion. Selling out and moving on the 
ft'ont wave of civilization, and their old homes passing into 
the hands of the wealthier, but more conservative Teuton- 
ic race, or what are sometimes termed " Pennsylvania Ger- 
mans," till the proportion of the two races was reversed. 
This also seriously affected the original churches, particu- 
larly the Congregational and Methodist, which through 
these causes became, during* this period, almost extinct ; 
while a large church of the (rerman Reformed denomina- 
tion, and another of the Mennonite, the members of both 
being chiefly of German descent, attracted the major part 
of the church-going population, till the revival of business 
by the location of the railroad and the discovery of rhe 
coal-mines, brought again members of those two denomin- 
ations, and a resurrection of their churches. During that 
period also, the old Wadsworth Academy was suspended, 
and the octagon building occupied for that purpose waa 
converted into a church. 

In the early part of this period, 1842, the present church 
edifices for the Disciple and Congregational churches were 
erected. The architect of both was George Hinsdale, son 
of Capt. Elisha Hinsdale, and brother of Albert Hinsdale. 
He was a yo\mg man of good education and superior 
abilitv. He was taken sick before the first was finished; 



110 WADS WORTH MEMOHIAL. 

and died before the last was completed. His last work 
was the drafting of the design for the singers' gallery in 
the Congregational chnroh. ITis fnneral was tlie first held 
in the Disciple chnrch. 

The years 1844 and 1848 were memorable for a malig- 
nant epidemic that visited the township, carrying otl' by 
death a large number of its inhabitants. It prevailed very 
extensively in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan, and 
was known as malignant erysipelas, or erysipalatns fever. 
The following description, written by Dr. C. N. Lyman, 
one of the physicians who treated for the disease, may be 
valuable for a historic reference, both as to the disease and 
its treatment. 

Wads WORTH, Jan. 25, 1875. 

Rev. K. Bfown, Dear Sir. 

In compliance with your request, I send you a brief de- 
scription of the epidemic by which this town was visited 
in the years 1844-48. Yours truly, 

C. N. Lymax, M.D. 

During the year 1844, there occurred within tlie limits 
of the township, an epidemic of erysipelas, very severe in 
its character and fatal in its results, selecting for its vic- 
tims some of the best of our citizens of adult age. It was 
contined mostly within the limits of the township, thougli 
extending somewhat into the townships of Norton and 
Chippewa. It began in the month of January, and con- 
tinued until the following August, when its virulence sub- 
sided, with occasional manifestations until the winter of 
1848, when it reappeared in the east part of the towns of 
Guilford and Montville, with its accustomed fatality, and 
again made its appearance in this township, marking as its 
own a number of our prominent citizens. 

Its mode of attack was almost always in the form of in- 
flammation of the throat and fauces, with a disposition to 
migrate to other parts of the body, usually selecting the 
serous membranes. Sometimes, however, the muscular 



WADSWOKTH MEMORIAL. HI 

and adipose tissues would be the seat of the metastatic 
attack. The change from the throat to the point of attack 
would be sudden, and for a few hours the patient would 
flatter himself that he was convalescent, when a rigor and 
restlessness would supervene, telling, too often fatally, that 
the hope was only a delusive one. When the serous 
membranes were the seat of the disease, the formation of 
pus was a rapid process, the patient frequently dying with- 
in three days. A post-mortem examination would disclose 
the serous cavities filled with pus. When the muscular 
and adipose tissues were the seat of the disease, pus was 
formed in enormous quantities if the patient survived long 
enough. Frequently, however, death supervened too rap- 
idly for this process to mature. 

That portion of the epidemic which occurred in 1844 
was most successfully treated by large and rapid depletion, 
some patients requiring to be bled to faintness, two or 
three times within thirty-six hours. This was markedly 
the case when the serous membranes were involved. 
When the other tissues were the seat of the disease, bleed- 
ing was not of such manifest utility. Some cases were 
so rapid as to call for the directly opposite treatraenl, and 
they were as rapidly fatal. 

When the disease reappeared in a severe form in 1848— 19 
bleeding and depletion was not tolerated at all. In ihQ few 
cases in which they were tried, in the commencement of 
the outbrenk, the results were so unsatisfactory tliat those 
measures were abandoned immediately. This latter mani- 
festation of the disease showed less predilection lor the 
serous membranes than the former. In the first epidemic, 
with a population of about 1200, there were 124 well- 
marked cases. 25 of which proved fatal. The later epi- 
demic was spread over more territory, but the proportion 
of deaths to those attacked Avas greater. Since that time 
it has not appeared in an epidemic form. 



112 WADSWORTH 3fEMORIAL. 

WADSWORTH FROM 1860. 

This period of fifteen years marks a new era in the his- 
tory of the place. The era of growth and development, 
com])rchending : 

J. The discovery and opening of the coal-mines. 

2. The location of the Atlantic and Great Western R. E. 

3. The general revival and enlargement of business, and 
the erecting of manufactories. 

,4. The bulMing of a line structure for the education of 
the youth, and the establishment of a system of graded 
schools. 

5. The founding of a College. 

6. The revival and enlargement of the churches. 

7. The part taken by citizens of Wadsworth in the 
great contest for the nation's life. 

8. Last, but by no means least, the successful establish- 
ment of the public press. 

We will consider each in tlicir order. First, 

WADSWOirTH COAL-MTNES. 

'At an early day bituminous coal was known to exist in 
«^ome parts of the township, before ;dl its uses or its true 
rommercial value were known or thought of More than 
fifty years since, small quantitien of coal were found in va- 
rious localites, in digging wells. 

About 1821), coal in beds, cropping out near the surface, 
was found both In the northeastern and southeastern por- 
tions of the township ; and small quantities tor several 
years were mined for domestic use, and the limited manu- 
Tacturing of the region. But the location of the Atlantic 
and Great Western Raili-oad, bringing these mines into 
connection with the great coal markets afforded by the 
cities and extensive manutactories of the State, not only 
made them sources of wealth, but by developing an exten- 
sive business added greatly to the growth and prosperity 
of the village, and of the township at large ; a village by 



WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 113 

itself having grown up, composed of a population wholly 
connected with the mining and shipping of coal, at Silver 
Creek, the point of shipment, a mile and a half southeast 
of the depot. The first mining of coal for commercial 
purp(»ses commenced at that point, in Feb., 1869. 

The amount of coal sent olf by railroad daily from the 
Huniplirey & Coleman bank. Silver Creek Station, and 
from the Wads worth mines, a little larther southeast, is 
ascertained to average from 400 to 500 tons per day. 

Coal-mines have been opened in four localities in the 
township. The Humphrey &: Coleman mines, the Wads- 
worth mines, the Town-line mines in the northeast corner 
(the bed extending into four townships. The coal of this 
mine is of a superior quality, and being remote from tlie 
railroad, is mined wholly for home consumption, in the 
villages of Western Star, Wadsworth, and Bates' Corners, 
and the country around). The Stony Ridgemines have 
abundant supplies, but. are not at present worked. Large 
portions of the Silver Creek mines, that have their outlet 
in the township of Chippewa, are also located in this 
township. 

The first shipment of coal at Wadsworth was soon after 
the completion of the railroad, in 1863 ; brougiit from the 
Silver Creek mines in Chippewa, in wagons, till the com- 
pletion of the branch road. Those mines are the most ex- 
tensive Iv worked of anv in the vicinitv — their annual 
exports amounting to about 100,000 tons. Since the com- 
pletion of the Tuscarawas Valley E. R.. they have ceased 
to forward at Wadsworth. 

ATLANTIC AND GREAT WESTERN EATLROAl). 

This road is a continuation of the Xew York and Erie 
road. Like that road it is of broad giiage. It runs from 
the Erie road, starting at Salamanca, N. Y., and terminat- 
ing at Dayton. Length, 389 miles. By an ari-angement 
with the Cincinnati, Hamilton, and Dayton road, a third 



114 WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 

rai) was laid, by wliich the trains of the A. and (t. W. road 
are run into Cincinnati. The road was completed in 
May, 18(^3. 

Distance from Wadsworth to Salamanca, 216 miles. 

" " " " New York, ()29 " 

" " « " Dayton, 173 " 

« '- " •' Cincinnati, 232 '' 

The passenj^er and freight receipts at the depot average 
over 1100 per day. The out-going- freights. -$50. 

Closely connected with the location of the railroad, and 
owing chiefly to this, has been the rapid growtli of tlie 
town into a place of extensive business. The existence of 
the coal-mines, and the desirableness of the location as a 
center of business, had mucli to do in dctermiidng the lo- 
cation of the road here, rather than farther south. The 
height of the land north determined its location south of 
the original and present center of business, and built up 
what is known as South Wadsworth — the seat of the jirin- 
cipal manufacturing interest. 

INCORPORATION OF THE VILLAGE. 

The increase of population after tlie opening of the rail- 
road soon rendered it expedient to secure an incorpora- 
tion. Es])ecially was it thought desirable for the benelits 
to be derived for school [)urposes. 

The movement commenced in 1805. Tlie ])apers were 
drawn up by Aaron and H. C. Pardee. F]sqs.. I)i-. C. N. Ly- 
man acting as agent for the people. Owing to a mistake 
in dates, it became necessary to make a second publication, 
so that it was not cojisummated till IStUi. First election, 
April 4th. The tirst otiicers under the corporation : Aaron 
I'ardee, Mayor: J. C. Houston, Recorder; C. N. Lvman 
Wm. F. Boyer, John Lytle, W. T. Ridenour. and Luman 
l\ Mills, Trustees. 

The boundaries of the cor])oration ar(> run somewhat 
irregularly. Its longest dimensions, from north to south, 



WADSWORl'Ii MEMOlilAL. 115 

about one and one-half miles; and from east to west, 
about a mile; the whole area, 896 acres of land; a little 
over one and one-third square miles, or about one-twenti- 
eth of the township. 

The incori)o ration of the village necessitated the erec- 
tion of a huilding for council room, police court, jail, etc. 
This was provided by designing- a plan for a township hall 
for holding elections and public meetings, with rooms for 
post-office, council hall, and " lock-up ;" the last two in 
consideration tiiat a larger proportion of the tax would be 
paid by people living upon the corporation. 

This was to be submitted to a vote of the people of the 
township ; the form of the ballot being : 

For building Town Hall — Yes. 

For building Town Hall— No. 

The question to be decided by the majority of votes 

cast. 

There was great opposition manifested against the meas-. 
ure by people living olf the corporation ; but it was car- 
ried in a legal form, in a manner somewhat amusing. 

The printed tickets had upon them: "For buikting 
Town Hall — "' leaving it for each voter to add his yes, or 
n(5. Neglecting to do this, or scratt^hing out the \vord.s, 
made it equivalent to no vote, it is related that about si»- 
ty voters of tlie township indignantly scratched off the 
words ''For building Town Hall/" which instead of being 
a vote against, made it simply a nullity. So the majority 
vote was For building Town Hall. A convenience that 
probably no one in or out of the coii^oration now regrets. 
It was built by township tax, in 18<>7, at a c^ost of $5,000. 
It is a substantial brick structure, two stories high. The 
lower story has a commodious front room for the post- 
office, and back of it the room for council room and police 
and village justice's courts, and a room for securing pris- 
oners, or lodging vagrants j or, in common parlance, 
" tramps." 



WQ WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 

EEVIVAL AND ENLARGEMENT OF BUSINESS. 

Willi the completion of the railroad, a large and active 
business sprang' up. Real estate rose in value. Building- 
ots, both for business houses and residences, were in great 
demand, and the village was enlarged, and surveyed into 
streets and lots. Merchants, manufacturers, and trades- 
men saw this to be a desirable point. 

Previous to that time, the place could support but about 
two retail stores, and manufai.'turing was confined to one 
wagon and carriage shop, one match factory, tannery, 
blacksmith shop, cabinet shop, slioe shop, and sawmill. 

The place then supported one physician and one lawyer. 
There was one old, dilapidated^ schoolroom ; and though 
there were four church buildings, two of them were not 
statedly used. But from that time a change came over the 
place. With the revival of business there was also a re- 
vival of enterprise, and new channels of business began 
to be opened, companies for mining and manufacturing 
to be formed, whose operations were not confined to the 
town, but in some cases extending even into other States. 

The growth of business has from that time been steadily 
forward ; increasing till the retail business has required 
the erection of two extensive brick blocks, and other 
buildings ; till the retail establishments for dry goods, for 
clothing, fancy goods and millinery, groceries, hardware 
boots and shoes, drugs and medicines, furnituce, flour and 
feed, harness and leather, Avatches and jewelry, cigars and 
pipes, etc., now exceed thirty. 

Since that period, also, a large and beautiful structure 
has been erected for school ijurposes, and graded schools 
of a superior order established: a College founded, and 
now in operation under an able board of instructors ; a 
large printing house established, with two improved cylin- 
der presses constantly running, for newspaper and job 
work, from which one weekly and three monthlies are reg- 



WADSWORTit MEMORIAL; JJ^ 

ularly printed ; the weekly with a circulation of 1,000, and 
the monthlies, respectively, of 250,000, 10,000, and 2,000. 

There are now three physicians and three lawyers, six or- 
ganized churches (five within the corporation), with set- 
tled pastors and commodious houses of worship. 

Of all these particulars a fuller description will be given 
subsequently. 

PUBLIC EDUCATION. 

Before giving an account of the present educational 
facilities, it may be well to refer to the et!brts of former 
years to make provision for the education of the youth of 
the town. 

As stated in the pioneer history. Miss Harriet Warner 
heads the list of teachers, having* taught a private school 
in her father's house, in 181(i. Marcus Brown first teach- 
er of a pubic school, in the winter of 1816-17. The early 
settlers from New England and New York had enjoyed 
the benefits of schools in their Eastern homes, and were 
not the ones to suffer their children to grow up in igno- 
rance. The German portion were tenacious of the Ger- 
man language, and though they were desirous of educating 
their children, most of tliem for several years preferred to 
support German schools. 

Before the establishing of a complete school system by 
1;he Legislature, the inhabitants of the IVcstern Reserve 
inaugurated in each town a voluntary public school sys- 
tem. Then log schoolhouses were built by private labor, 
and an annual school-meeting was held, and what was 
called a school committee was appointed to provide teach- 
ers for the winter and summer schools, usually of four and 
five month's duration. Those who sent paid by the num- 
ber of days of each scholar's attendance. When the teach- 
er was a resident it was not uncommon, in the scarcity of 
money, for such as could pay in no other way to repay rhe 
teacher by work on his farm, in summer, day for day. 

He who imagines those teachers, in the pioneer age, a set 



118 Wadsworth memorial. 

of ignoramuses, is entirely mistaken. The best education 
and talent were always in demand, and the teachers, 
schools, and scholars of that day when books were scarce, 
and when none of the modern lacilities were in existence, 
would compare favorably with those of the present, lak- 
ino- into the account the altered circumstances, 'i'hough 
books were scarcer, and the course of studies ]in;ited, 
there was a thoroughness in teaching and in tlie absence 
of anything to call otl" the attention of scholars, and an 
eagerness to learn that will always surmount all dilUc.ulties. 

(,)f the early teachers of Wadsworth, the writer can viv- 
idly recall those who inspired their scholars witli a desire 
for knowledge; and the old copies of Webster's Spelling- 
book, American Preceptor, Columbian Orator, and Eng- 
lish Reader (read over and over lor waul of variety), with 
DaboTs Arithmetic, Morse's Geograpliy, and Murray's 
trrammar, witli their time-soiled pag(;s testified to ihoi*- 
oiigh use and earnest study. 

Those old teachers, Slierman Loomis, George Lyman, 
Lemuel North, and John Nesmith, deserve particular men- 
tion. It would be diflicult at this time to find a better 
rhetorical reader than Lemuel North, or one who inspired 
his scholars with a loltier ambition than did either of those 
worthies. And iiot a tew who have made their mark as 
scholars, and in the learned proiessions. received their iirst 
inspiration in those log-house seminaries. 

In ISHO, while the first Congregational church was being 
tinished, a plan was suggested by Frederick Brown, and 
unanimously approved by the society, to give tlie use of 
the house free for a select school, on condition that the 
young men who desired such a school should provide the 
seats and desks, so prepared as to be convenient for use 
either for schools or public meetings. The plan was ac- 
cepted by a sufficient number, the house finished, and a 
meeting called to provide iov such school. F. Brown, 
Chairman; Dr. G. K. Pardee, Secretary. A connnittee 



WADSVyORTH MEMORIAL. 119 

was chosen, consisting" of Georg'e Lyman, William F.yles. 
and lloralio Warner, to employ a teacher and make 
arranj^emcnts for the school. 

George W. Barnes, a student of Western Reserve Col- 
lege (from Medina), was employed as teacher. The school 
was advertised, both in the neighboring papers and by 
jjosters, under the name ot Wadsworth Academy. Such 
schools were held in the winters, till in 18o4 John McGreu- 
or, a native of Scotland, a graduate of St. Andrew's Col- 
lege, (xlasgow, came to the place and proposed to teach such 
a school through the whole year. His pi'oposition was ac- 
cepied, and he continued as teacher, with one year's inter- 
val, till the year 1847. 

In 1837 Wadsworth Academy was incorporated, and the 
ortagon building erected for that purpose. 

We sometimes meet with a man of brilliant mind, who 
seems to have been born with a njission : successful in one 
direction and in that one alone. Yet that success so 
marked as to out-distance all competitors. Such a man 
was John McGregor. He seemed to have been made ibr a 
teacher. In those davs the fame of Wadsworth Acadeujv. 
which was simply John McGregor with a house to teach 
iji, extended far and near, and was known even beyond the 
limits oi' the State. liut lew teachers have had so many 
pupils who have been successful in after life, mainly 
through the impulse given to them by one mind. His 
method was simple, perfectly natural, yet inimitable. 
Graduates of a modern normal school would have found 
much to criticise in the order he kept. But what cared the 
enthusiastic Scotchman, so long as his scholars were dailv 



'o 



drinking in bis instructions and catching his enthusiasm, 
while their lessons were not conned over, but learned till 
they knew that they knew them? 

He scorned all codes of rules for the government of his 
scholars. '• You are gentlemen and ladies," he would say ; 
" you have come here for one purpose, and that alone. It 



120 WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 

is your school, not mine, and yon will see to it that noth- 
ing shall call me from the one Avork of giving instruction. 
I rely solely upon your own self-respect and sense of pro- 
priety and honor." It was very rarely that he reproved, 
but if it had to be administered it left a scar. But such 
was his simplicity of heart, and sincerity, that if on reflec- 
tion he thought he had done any injustice to a pupil, he 
would voluntarily ask i)ardon before the whole school. 
He loved and took a pride in his pupils, and his pupils 
loved and were proud of their teacher. 

Amonu- the educational means of an earlv dav, the pub- 
lie libraries formed no small part. The tirst circulating 
library was obtained in 1822. In the winter of that year. 
.Judge Brown having returned on a visit to Connecticut, 
obtained by donation from his old neighbors in Colebrook. 
a good collection of valuable books, which he brought 
home in a chest, in a one-horse wagon, a journey of i)00 
miles, in the month of February. These books formed the 
nucleus of a circulating library, in charge of a society of 
ladies, called the A^adsworth Female Librarv Association ; 
ot which Mrs. Chloe 8. Brown was President ; Mrs. T*olly 
Eyles, Vice President ; and Mrs. Clymena Loomis, Libra- 
rian. This library association continued several years. 

In 1823, another and larger library was established in the 
eastern part of the town, called the Wadsw^orth Farmers' 
Library. Of the first named library, two volumes are still 
held as relics. One, Josephus' Annals, by E. G. Loomis ; 
the other, Bunyan's Holy War, by E. Brown. After- 
wards, a library association with a more extensive collec- 
tion of books, was formed at the Center ; Dr. G. K. Par- 
dee, Librarian. 

Much credit is due to the young men of that period for 
the efibrts made in behalf of education. It was a call of 
young men. headed by Horatio Warner, that convened the 
tirst meeting for taking measures for a select school, in 
1830. 



WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 121 

lu 1828, the young' men met in the log sclioolhouse and 
organized a lyceum, under the name of the Wadsworth 
Literary Club. The same company also formed a rhetorical 
school, and chose Capt. George Lyman as teacher. They 
held weekly evening schools for speaking, acting of dia- 
logues and coloquies, at the house of Benjamin Agard, and 
concluded with an exhibition in the unfinished upper story 
of the new house of William Eyles. 

The exhibition, after the ancient style of dramatic per- 
formances, was opened by the recitation of a prologue, 
composed for the occasion by one of the young men,* which 
is given verbatim, from memory, and will answer as a spec- 
imen of Wadsworth pioneer poetry. 

Pr«iogue. 

Unused to come before an audience 
To speak ov act, or any such pretense. 
Our youthful faces with confusion glow 
When we consider what a depth below 
Perfection's standard our endeavors all, 
At such a time as this, must surely fall. 

But still, my friends, if you will bear in mind 
The many disadvantages we tiud. 
Our chance of practice limited and small, 
Our talents trifling, almost none at all, 
Our education poor, our means confined— 
I say if you will even keep these things in mind- 
Greatly surprised perhaps you will not be. 
Our imperfections and our faults to see. 
Some surly critic, niixed among the throng, 
May snap and snarl, and say that all is wrong- 
That not a sound salutes his ear aright. 
And not a graceful action meets his sight. 

So he may criticise, detract, and rail. 
And say in every point we wholly fail. 
But stop, my friend, prithee don't be so fast! 
You may be partly wrong yourself, at last! 
Lend me your patience, while to you I tell 
An anecdote, that fits your case full well, 

*A. Pardee. i 



;]^22 WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 

A beggar boy once met upon the road 

A kindly man, who generously bestowed 

A meal of victuals on the hungry coot, 

And a refreshing pot of beer to boot. 

The beggar ate; then turning, Avhen he'd done, 

Unto his benefactor, thus begun : 

" Your meal of victuals was not ^vorth a ciirsc. 

Your bread and cheese Avas poor— your beer was worse. 

I do not thank you for such stingy fare. 

When you have cakes and pies, and wine to spare." 

" Ungrateful wretch !" the geuerous man replied; 

"I gave it you— what could you ask besideV 

It was the very best I could provide ; 
And Avith the best you arc not satislied. 
Go— thankless cui I Go, villian, stay not here! 
And nevermore in human sight appear! 
'Beggars should not bo choosers;' so now clear!" 
And now, my good friend, just hear one word more, 
jVud then my prologue will all ))e said o'er. 
There is a maxim which you all have seen. 
Which near expresses every word I mean: 
Never look a gift liorse in the mouth. Amen! 



Criticism being tliiis disarmed, the exhibition was by 
universal consent pronounced a "' success." This exhibition 
was enliveud by an orchestra, consisting of a flute, chirin- 
et, bass-viol, violin, and bassoon ; played by Uriah M. 
Chapx)el, W. S. Eichards, James ISTewcomb, Julius Kich- 
ards, and Ezekiel Richards. 

A little subsequently, Dr. Pardee, at the request of the 
yotuig men, who contributed to defray tlie expenses of 
experiments, delivered a full course of chemical lectures. 
John McGregor also gave a course of lectures upon an- 
cient histoi'y. 

Of that class of young men who, amid so great disad- 
vantages, " did the best their circumstances would allow,'' 
of which a poet sage says, " Angels could do no more," not 
one of them found life a failure. ]N"ot one lies in "a drunk- 
ard's grave ; not one has been an inmate of a prison or 
almshouse ; not one but has risen to respectable standing, 



WaDsworth memorial. 123 

^nd attained success in his calling. As educational insti- 
tutions, the saloon and billiard-hall were then unknown. 
Let the fruits of each tell for themselves. '' Whatsoever a 
man soweth, that shall he also reai^.'' 

About 1829-31, the township was finally districted for 
school purposes, and more commodious frame structures 
built. These have since given way to still larger ones, 
principally built of brick, with the modern improvements. 
This brings us to the history of the public school building 
of Wadsworth viUage. 

This was begun in 1869. The draft for the building was 
made by the late Col. S. C. Porter, architect, of Cleveland. 
It is a large brick building, erected at a cost of $25,000. 
The money was raised by bonds at 8 per cent. The inter- 
est and a part of the principal paid each year. Of that 
sum, there was still outstanding Jan. 1, 1875, $9,300. The 
building is of three stories, with Mansard roof. The 
whole upper story is furnished for a hall. 

The school now has four departments; A. B. Stutzman, 
A. M., Priuci pal. 

FOUNDING OF A COLLEGE. 

An important feature in the history of the town is the 
founding of a College, situated within the corporation 
limits. An institution that, though in its infancy, is doubt- 
less destined to attain a future greatness and exert a wide- 
spread influence, from the fact that it is the only institu- 
tion in the United States under the patronage of a large 
and wealthy Christian denomination. 

The statistics of the denomination in 1860, showed that 
their communities in the United States and Canada num- 
bered 128,000 members. Having no College or Theologic- 
al Seminary in the United States, and being chiefly of Ger- 
man descent and speaking the German language, and but 
few of their churches paying their ministers a salary, a 
lijajority, especially of the Old School Mennonites, being 



J24 wadsWorth memorial. 

opposed to salaried preaching, the want of a thoroughly 
educated ministry was extensively felt by the better edu- 
cated class. That brajich of the church called the New 
Mennonites, iu 1860, called a general conference of the 
churches in West Point, Lee county, Iowa (the first held 
in the United St*ates), at which the following resolutions 
were passed, and are copied from a literal translation from 
their minutes, published in tlie German language : 

1. That all the divisions of the Mennonite church in 
North America, without regard to minor points of difler- 
euce, should extend to each other tlio brother-hand. 

2. That nothing should sever the brother-tie, except de- 
parture from the fundamental doctrines that have always 
been cherished b^ our churches since the days of Menno 
Simons.* 

3. That each larger or smaller community can keep its 
own rules and regulations. 

4. That foreign and home missionary work should be 
done in future by the clmrches. 

5. That the Press is a necessary auxiliary to the work of 
the church, and a good paper should be established. 

6. That a theological school should be established in our 
church, as soon as it can well be done. 

At a conference held in Wadsworth, Ohio, in 1861, the 
above resolutions were reaffirmed, and the following addi- 
tional ones passed : 

1. That our communities should be built upon the foun- 
dation alone laid down in 1 Cor. 3 : 11. 

2. That no one can be a member of the Mennonite order 
who is a member of any secret organization. 

3. That the Press already established shall be main- 
tained. 



*Th08e fuuaamental doctrines alwve referred to are baptism after in- 
stniction, noiijuration, or not taking of oaths, and non-resistance, or the 
iiot taking «p of arms. 



WADSWORTH M:EM0RIAL. 125 

4. That a minister shall be employed as a collecting- 
agent for the school about to be established. 

In the meantime funds were raised, and at a third con- 
ference, held at Summerlield, Illinois, Wadsworth, Ohio, 
was decided upon as the location, and a committee of man- 
agement appointed. At that conference it was resolved : 

I. That the school to be built shall be built upon the 
foundation of which Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone. 

2. That the name of the institution shall be, The Chris- 
tion Educational Institute of the Mennonite Community, 
and shall be in all respects under the auspices of the gen- 
eral conference. 

3. That only such men can be employed as officers or 
teachers as take a lively interest in the prosperity of the 
Mennonitt? communities, and the welfare of the Church of 
Christ in general. 

4. Only such men can be employed as teachers in this 
instiution as possess a thorough knowledge of the Bible, 
and are conversant with the doctrines of Salvation through 
Christ, and of the general doctrines of the Mennonite 
churches, and heartly approve them. To wit : Nonjuration, 
adult baptism, and non-resistance, as taught by Menno 
Simons, and based upon the gospel. 

5. The German language shall be the principal one 
taught, but other languages as necessity may call for ; and 
the full course shall be three years. 

6. Since this is a Christian institution, the wor<i of God 
shall hold a chief place among things taught. 

In 1864, the base of the building was erected, and iu 
1865 the main building, a substantial brick structure, under 
the direction of Aaron Kent, of Pennsylvania, architect 
and builder. This first building is 65 feet by 38, with three 
stories and a basement. It stands at the geograi)hical cen- 
ter of the township, and at the western limit of the cor- 
poration. The cost of the building and grounds was 
$17,000. 



l^g WADSWORTtt MeMoUIAL. 

The sclioo] was opened for instruction Jan. Ist* 186?^ 
under an able corps of teachers. 

Rev. Carl J. Von der Smissen, Principal and Professor 
of Theology. 

Prof. Daniel P. Risser, Teacher of German Department. 

Rev. Manassas S. Mover, Teadier of Engl i si i Depart- 
ment. 

This institution being the only one in this country of a 
large and able denomination, it is hoped and believed that 
as its benefits become known, they will be induced to give 
it a more liberal support, that the necessity shall be felt 
and the \yiiy opened to the addition of such departments 
as shall afford facilities for a thorough classical and scien- 
tific education, invite the patronage of the whole commu- 
nity, and the institution become one of the chief attrac- 
tions of the place. 

REVIVAL AND ENLAIIGEMKNT OF THE CHUIKJHES. 

A history of the early churches of the township was 
g'iven in the memorial sermon. It is now in place to con- 
tinue the history down to the present time. 

The Congregational church from 1839 to 1842 enjoyed 
the ministry of Rev. Aaron K. AVright, a young man of 
superior ability, very much beloved by his people, and re- 
spected by the community ; and his death was lamented 
by all. He was succeeded by Rev. M. H. Wilder, two 
years, and W. Robinson, one year. The changes of popu- 
lation before referred to, and emigration of members of 
the church, reduced it in numbers till but ten members, 
two male and eight female, remained in 1861. 

With the revival of business came membefs of that de- 
nomination, and in 1862 the church building was repaired, 
and the church resuscitated. It was supplied from year to 
year by various ministers, till Rev. Daniel E. Hatheway 
was settled as pastor and ordained, Nov., 1868. During 
his ministry the church was enlarged and strengthened* 



WADS WORTH MEMORIAL, 127 

He resigned his pastorate in March, 1874, and E^v. Ed- 
ward brown was invited and acce pted the posirion. Ar- 
rived and commenced his hibors August 8, 1874, the 5oth 
aimiversary of the organization of the chnrcli, at wliich 
services, he, then a little child, was present. 

The Methodist church was also revived, and in 1867 their 
liouse of worship was enlarged and re-modeled. They 
have been supplied with a ministry since their first organ- 
ization, according to the itinerating system of that denom- 
ination. The church is now in a prosperous condition, 
with a commodious house and convenient parsonage, un- 
der the pastoral charge of Kev. A. Pollock. 

The Disciple church have continued their worship in 
their church, finished in 1842, under various pastors, 
among them Revs. A. B. Green and H. Jones, and the last 
of whom were Eev. J. F. Rowe, Rev. J. Knowles from 
April, 1869, to April, 1872, and Rev. C. F. W. Cronemeyer 
present pastor. The present conditio)i of the church is 
prosperous, with good congregation and interesting Sun- 
day-school. 

The following history of the Reformed church is fur- 
nished for this work by Rev. S. C. Goss, the present pas- 
tor; 

The organization of the Reformed church was ettected 
on the 24th day of October, 1858. Its first pastor was 
Rev. Jesse Schlosser, who began his labors here about four 
months previous to the organization. During his pastor- 
ate the services were held in the Congregational and Dis- 
ciple churches, kindly furnished by their congregations. 

Six members constituted the church at the beginning. 
Their names, in the order in which they appear upon the 
record, are Henry Yoekey, Catherine Yockey, John C. 
Kremer, Lidia Kremer, E. K. Kremer, and Isaac Griese- 
mer. The first oflicers were Henry Yockey, Elder, and 
J. C. Kremer, Deacon. 

Mr. Schlosser, the founder, and two of the original 



128 WADS WORTH MEMORIAL. 

members have died, and another has moved West, leaving 
but three of the first membership who are now members 
of the organization. 

The second pastorate was that of Rev. Jesse Hines, who 
began his labors Juno 1st, 1860. It was under his pastor- 
ate that the old octagon academy building, and lot (else- 
where mentioned in this work), were purchased of Aaron 
Pardee, for $150, and converted into a house of worship. 
It was dedicated October 6th, 1861 ; Revs. S. B. Leiter and 
Wm. McCaughey preaching the dedicatory sermons. 

The third pastorate was that of Rev. D. H. Reiter, who 
began his labors August 1st, 1863. 

The fourth was that of Rev. J. J. Excell, who began his 
labors in the spring of 1865, and conti nued until the first 
of August, 1866. 

His successor was Rev. S. C. Goss, the present pastor, 
who entered on his labors August 1st, 1866. At the be- 
ginning of liis labors the membership numbered 43. The 
present numerical strength of the congregation is 115. 

Early in this pastorate, the congregation greatly beauti- 
fied the old academy building. A new roof was put on, 
and it was re-paintcd outside and inside; also papered 
after a most beautiful design. Besides this, other improve- 
ments, which taken together gave a most delightful inside 
appearance to the " Eight-Cornered Church." 

The growing interest and membership, however, began 
to point to the need of a larger house of worship. A 
movement in this direction was originated in the Consis- 
tory, early in 1872. Subsequently it was seconded by the 
congregation, and actual work in getting out material 
commenced in October of that year. 

The cornerstone was laid June 29th, 1873, and on the 28th 
of December of tlie same year, the congregation was per- 
mitted to witness the dedication of their present beautiful 
churcli building, situated on the old site, on High Street, 
where now stands a sanctuary which, for architectural 



WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 129 

beauty is probably second to none in the county. Its en- 
tire cost, including furniture and all, falls below $4,500. 

The present officers of the church are : David Waltz, 
J. Jas. Hoffman, J. C. Kremer, Elders ; Hiram Yaukey, 
Henry Shelly, Deacons. Together with the pastor, these 
constitute the Consistory, and they also are the trustees 
in charge of the church property. 

Emmanuel's Church, Reformed and Lutheran, is noticed 
in the memojL'ial sermon as being organized as a Union 
church oi' the two denominations ; its location being in the 
corners of the three townships of Wadsworth, Norton, and 
Chippewa. The first log meeting-house was built on the 
Chippewa, or Wayne county side of the line, and the town 
line cemetery located on the same side. This church has 
continued in existence ever since. Their different pastors, 
as nearly as I have been able to ascertain, were — Lutheran, 
Messrs. Merrick, Weigant, and Fast; Reformed, Benja- 
min Faust, Solomon Sonnerdecker, Charles Zwisler, John 
W. Harmer, E. D. Miller, and S. B. Leiter. About 1832, 
a large frame church was erected on the Norton side, and 
in 1873 the present new and commodious building, on the 
site of the old log church. 

There was for a few years in the southern portion of the 
township, a small church of the denomination known as 
Albrights (one of the offshoots from the Methodist church), 
but as a church it has for some years been extinct. The 
Baptist church formed in the northwestern portion of 
Wadsworth and southwestern o-f Sharon, has likewise for 
several years been out of existence. 

Of the denomination known as Mennonites, a name de- 
rived from their founder, or, as it is claimed, restorer of 
the church, Menno Simons, there are three divisions in 
Wadsworth. First, the Old Mennonites. 

The first of that order who became a resident was Mr. 
Henry Geissinger, in 1825 ; the same year, Martin Over- 
holtz and Joseph Overholtz, In 1827 they were joined by 



130 WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 

Philip Geissiiiger, Daniel Widcman, John Long, Nicholas 
Kurtz and son, Samuel Kuitz, and Abraham Beam. In 
1838, llev. William Overholtz came, who was their lirsi 
stationary preacher, and a church, or society was organized. 
Alter the deatli of Mr. Overholtz, Abiah Rohrer became 
t lie slated preacher. Mr. Rohrer is at this time (Feb., 1875) 
still living, at an advanced age. Jacob Coppes was also a 
preacher among them during tifte pastorates of Messrs. 
OverJioltz and Rohrer. I have not been able to procure 
any definite statistics of their membership. They have a 
good house of worship near the township line, but within 
the limits of Guilford tOAvnship. 

The New Mennonite church was organized in October, 
1852. Original members. Rev. Ephraim Hunsberger and 
wife, Jonas Nice and wife, Henry Nice and wife, Jacob 
Overholtzer and wife, Elias Smith and wife, and John 
Alderfer. Mr. Hunsberger has been the pastor of the 
church since its first organization. A brick church-build- 
ing was erected soon after the organization of the church, 
at the junction of the Medina road, one mile west of the 
corporation. The present membership numbers 95. The 
Mennonite College, of which we have given a history, is 
under the auspices of this branch of the denomination. 

The Evangelical Mennonites have also an organization, 
mace in 1873, and purchased the octagon church, once used 
for an academy building, and have repaired it and fitted it 
up in convenient form. Rev. Eusebius Harsha is their 
present pastor. 



Wadsworth memorial. 131 

THE WAR RECORD OF WADSWORTH. 

Among the pioaeer settlers of Wadsworth, there were 
accounted seven who had borne arms in behalf of their 
country in the war of the Revolntiou, whicli we g'lvo with 
the State from which they enlisted. 

Joseph Bartholomew, Connecticn!.. 

William Lamp son, " 

Jedediah Richards, '' 

Moses Shaw, "^ 

Michael Waltz, Pennsylvania. 

Peter Waltz, « 

James Gilford, Maryland. 

To this list may be added the names of four other vete- 
rans, whose residence was just over tlie line in Norton, 
but were a part of the same community. 
Philemon Kirkum, Connecticut. 

Elisha Hinsdale, " 

Simeon Humphrey, •' 

Clement Clark, Vermont. 

Of those who served in the war of 1812, wo tind of. 
Luman Beach, Ohio. 

William K. Beach, •' 

Samuel McCoy, * 

Christopher Rasor, " 

Christian Ritter, <* 

Daniel Shatto, " 

Michael Simcox, " 

Adam Smith, " 

Adam Smith, 2d. « 

Jacob Smith, ** 

Christopher Auble, Pennsylvania. 

William Crouymiller, U. S. Marines, '• 

John Glasgo, "■ 

George Mellick, " 

Thomas Reese, 
John Scott, " 



232 WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 



a 

a 

Nathaniel Eastman, Assistant Surgeon, " 

igwajo 



Phineas Butler, New York. 

Cyrus Curtis, sr., Captain, 
Norman Curtis, 
John Smith, Surgeon, 
Nathaniel Eastman, Ai 

Luther Ilemmingwaj^, *' 

Andrews May, " 

Allen Pardee, '' 

John Pardee, " 

James Piatt, " 

J. VanOrsdoll, " 

Pliilo Welton, Colonel, " 

George Lyman, Orderly Sergeant, Connecticut. 

W. Steward Richards, Musician, " 

Joseph Dean, Vermont. 

Calvin Dorwin, " 

William H. Wright, Drum Major, " 

In the great struggle for the nation's life, the part borne 
by citizens of Wadsworth was one worthy to be commem- 
orated in the history of the town. 

The first enlistments were in the 29th Reg., O. T. L, Co. 
H. Thomas 3^'olger, Hiram Root, Frank H. Boyer, and 
Eli Overholt. They enlisted Oct. 28th, 18()1. They were 
in the battle of Winchester, Virginia, and at Port Repub- 
lic, June 9th 1862, in which Hiram Root and Eli Overliolt 
were taken prisoners. Root, being wounded, was sent to 
Libby prison; Overholt to Belle Isle. Root was ex- 
changed Sept. 1st, 1862, and joined his regiment. Over- 
holt was exchanged, and returned Sept., 1862, and joined 
his regiment in 1863. F. H. Boyer and Thomas Folger 
were in the battles of Cedar Mountain, second Bull Run, 
and Gettysburgh. Root was discharged on account of his 
wound. 

Overholt was wounded in the left leg, in Hooker's cam- 
paign, and after lying in hospitals at Acquia Creek, Wash- 
ington, and Cincinnati, for eight months, was discharged. 



Wadsworth memorial. 133 

Boyer served his time of enlistment, and re-enlisted one 
year in Hancock's Veteran Reserve Corps. Folger re- 
mained with his regiment, re-enlisted, and participated in 
the grand march of Sherman "from Atlanta to the sea," 
and reached the rank of First Lieutenant. 

In October, 1861, three citizens, T. W. Screene, K. 
McNaull, and John Eeed enlisted in the Gth Ohio Battery. 
They were in the battle of Mill Springs, Jan. 10th, 1862 ; 
the siege and taking of Corinth ; the rapid march to save 
Louisville, Ky. ; the battle of Paynesville ; at the taking 
of Chattanooga ; the battle of Chicamauga, and the battle 
of Missionary Ridge. December, 1863, they re-enlisted in 
tlie battery ; after which, they were in the bloody battles of 
Resaca and Adairsville, and at Dallas ; at the six weeks 
constant lighting at Atlanta. Then in the engagement at 
Columbia, Tenn., Nov. 27th ; at Spring Hill, Nov. 29th ; 
and with Foote's Cavalry at Franklin, Nov. 30th. Again 
at Nashville, Dec. Mth ; at Oveton Hill. In April, 1865 
were marched to Richmond, when Lee surrendered. They 
were in all the engagements with the battery. 

The 4:2d Regiment, O. V. I., was represented from 
Wadsworth by the following : 

Don A. Pardee, Maj. promoted to Col., Biev. Brig. Gen. 
Enlisted, < ictober, 1861. 

Abraham Kreider, Private, Musician, Mustered out, 1864. 
Jacob Kreider, Private, " " " 

Quincy A. Turner, Private, "' " " 

In 1862 : 
Geo. K. Pardee. Private, Lieut., Capt.. Mustered out, 1864. 

In Co. B, 1861 : 
Harrison Sours, Private, Mustered out, 1864. 

Andrew Herringtou, •' " " " 

Frederick Sporn, " " " " 

Robert Brown, " " " « 

William Benner, " Died * * * 

They were engaged in 13 decisive battles, principal of 



J[34 wadsworTh memorial. 

which were Cumberland gap, Clncasaw BliilVs, Arkansas 
Post, Magnolia Hill, Champion Hill, Bhick Jiiver Bridge. 
Vicksburg, Jackson, Comite Kiver. 

In the Ohi(» 2d Cavalry, enlisted Sept. 9th, 18()1. were : 
Allen P. Steele, Capt. Pi.esigned, 18()2. 

Eichard H. Pardee, 1st Lieut. Mustered out, 1804. 

James K. Pardee, Sergt. '' •' " 

Albert M. Beck, Private, 
Charles Grotz 



a u if 



a 



"■ That regiment was in 97 battles and engagements, 
marched an aggregate distance of 27,000 miles, served in 5 
dilierent armies forming a continuous lii.e of armies from 
the head waters of the Arkansas to the mouth of the 
James ; and its dead, reposing where they fell, form a vi- 
dette line half across the continent — a chain of prostrate 
sentinels, 2,000 miles long."* 

In August, 1862, part of Company I, llegiment 103, (). 
V. I., was made up in Wadsworth. First enlistment : 
Edward Andrews, 2d Lieut, liesigned. May 19th, 1805. 
Henry A. Mills, Sergt., 1st, and 2d Lieut. 

Mustered out. May 19, 18(>5. 
J. G. Lattimer, Corp., Sergt. "' " June, " 

Jojiathan Ebner, Private. " " •• *' 

Jonas Swartwood, " - " " " 

Jonas Bitner, '' •' " 

James Houghland, " " •' " 

T. C. Hard, " " " " 

Henry B. Yoder, " " " " 

Jasper Turner, " " " " 

Joseph Kunkler, " " " 

Henry Seiberling, " '' " " 

Charles Fenton, " " -' " " 

George Reed, " " " " " 

Henry Mussulman, " " « « " 

Frederick Webster, " Wounded and discharged. 

*01iio iu the War, page 761. 



a a 

u 

i- 
u 
ii 

u u 

u 



WADSWORTH MEMORIzVL. 135 

Kecruits of Company I, 18H3 : 

Loyd Seibcrliug, Private, " Mustered out, June, 1869. 

Charles Seiberling, " " " '' " 

Amandus Rogers, " " " " 

Henry Nash, " " " " " 

* * Kreider " " '* " 

* * Overholtz, " " " " 

Tlie following- three names are of those now living in 
Wadsworth, who belonged to the 10th Reg., O. Y, I. : 
T. D. Wolbach, Mnstr'd in, Oct. 1. 18(U ; out, Oct. 81, ISOi- 
Levi Lile, " '' 1862 ; '• 

J. Dennis, " " " " 

These served through campaigns in the Kanawa Valley, 
West Virginia, Southeast Kentucky, East Tennessee, Ar- 
kansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. Participated in 
the battles of Tazwell, Tenn., Ang. 6th, 1862, Chicasaw 
Blulls, Miss., Dec. 27, 28, and 29, 1862. Magnolia Hilh 
Miss., May 1st, 1863, Cliampion Hill, or Baker's Creek, 
Miss., May 16th, 1863, Black River Bridge, Miss., May 17th, 
1863, siege and captnre of Jackson, Miss., from July 7th to 
loth, 1863. Campaign on the coast of Texas, and on Red 
River, Louisiana; building of Great Dam at Alexandria, 
La., to float the gunboats over the rapids, besides numer- 
ous other forays and skirmishes in the enemy's country. 

Three young men, natives of Wadsworth, who had re- 
moved, died in the service, James L. Grotz, son of Abra- 
ham and Caroline Grotz, in the 7th Illinois Cavalry, died 
July 5th, 1862. Frederick G. Dean, born March 1st, 1834 ; 
died at Quincy, 111., May 17th, 1862. Stowell G. Dean, 
born Oct. 30th, 1838 ; died at Camp Dcuinison, May 6th, 
1862 ; sons of Benjamin Dean ; members of Co. G, 13th 
Reg., la. V. I. Also a Mr. Shafer, died in service. 

The following natives of Wadsworth served their term of 
three years in the 41st 111., and left an honorable record : 
John Baughman, John Loutzenheizer, 



Paul Baughman, 



John Wilhelm. 



136 



WADS WORTH MEMORIAL. 



They were in the battles of Fort Donaldson, Shiloh, Cor- 
inth, Holly Spring's, Vicksburg-, and Fort De Kussey. 

The following citizens also served in the war; enlisted 
in other counties and States : 



Joseph Lile, 


Reg. 104, O. V. I. 


Edward Hunt, 


" 86, " " " 


William Freeborn, 


a a a a a 


R. Thompson, 


" 125 " " " 


V. A. Clark, 


1, O. Artillery. 


Charles B. Curtis, * 


* * * 


Curtis Waltz, Musician, * 


-t- * * 


John Htmsburg-er, 


Navy, Illinois. 


Joseph Tyler, 


u 


Henry Boger, 


Wisconsin. 


llussel Griswold. 


(). V. I. 


Samuel Wise, 


.. a i. 


James Wilhelm. 


a u a 


Daniel Wilhelm. 


u u u 


Benjamin Wilhelm, 


a u a 


Abijah Hodgeman, 


.i a a 


Henry Mendenhall, 


.'< u a 


Charles O. Pacher, 


a a n 


P. V. Wilkins, Capt., 


Reg. 102, " " " 


Rev. S. C. Goss. Sergt. 


u" C)Q_ u u u 



The above 72 )iames are all that were reported for this 
work ])revious to going to press (Feb. 20;. Should any 
others be ascertaiiied, they will appear in an appendix. 



WADS WORTH MEMORIAL. 



137 



ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PUBLIC PRESS. 

In the year 186(^. a weekly newspaper, called the Wads- 
worth Enterprise, was established by John A. Clark and 
George A. Root. The first number was issued May 4, 
1866. At the end of the first year, Mr. Clark purchased 
his partner's interest, and continued the publication alone 
till 1870, when Mr. Emmanuel Lowry became a partner for 
the term of one year ; since which time Mr. Clark has been 
the sole proprietor. The present weekly circulation of the 
Enterprise is about 1000. 

In November, 1872, Mr. George C. Bennett started a 
monthly juvenile paper at Clark's Corners, in Wadsworth 
township, called the Young Folks'' Gem. Tlie publication 
office was moved in December, 1873, to Sharon Center. 
By offering' premiums and advertising, he secured a sub- 
scription list of 125,000. Mr. Bennett died March 20th, 
1874. Mr. Clark, editor of the Enterprise, purchased the 
Ge^yi of the administrator of Bennett's estate, and moved 
it to Wadsworth. Since that time its circulation has 
doubled, having at this time (Feb., 1875), 250,000 subscri- 
bers. 

Mr. Clark has erected a commodious brick building, 
of three stories, with a basement for engine, with two 
cylinder presses, on which the Enterp7'ise and Gem, and 
another monthly entitled Funny Things, are printed. An- 
other monthly, published at Poe, in this county, called the 
Scholar, is printed at this office. There is also a job office 
for all kinds of printing attached. The establishment 
gives constant employment, in its various departments of 
business, to upwards of 30 persons : and by its facilities 
for publication, advertising, and job work, and by its pub- 
lications going to every part of the Union and making the 
. place known, is doing much for its prosperity. The Ge7n is 
taken in every State and Territory of the Union, has a large 
circulation in Canada, and is supposed to have a larger sub- 
scription list than any other juvenile paper in the world. 



238 WAD8W0UTH MEMORIAL. 

WAI)S\V<J[?TII OF THE PRESENT. 

The precccdiiig- sketches close the past liislory of the 
town, and bring- it up to the present time. It remains to 
briefly sketch the present aspect of the phice, its business 
and resources, and future prospects. 

It may uow be set down as one of the orowing- viUages 
ot the State, destined to be in tlie future a phicc of in)i)or- 
tance, and become extensively known. It is a railroad 
center for a large section of country. 'JMie near vicinity 
of the coal-mines has made it a good location for manufac- 
turing, and extensive manufactures have sprung u]). Of 
these we will mention some of the more prominent. 

MANUFACTURE OF AORICULTURAL IMl'LEiNIENTy AND MACHIN- 
ERY. . , 

In 1865, a company was organized for this purpose, con- 
sisting of Silas P. Chandler, H. Z. Chandler, E. G. Loomis, 
E. H. Loomis, George Wise, A. K. Tennypacker, and 
II. G. Folger, under the name of the Wadsworth Machine 
Company. A large building was erected near the depot, 
and fitted up with steam-works, and furnace for casting, 
with all kinds of machinery necessary for manufacturing 
threshing-machines, horse-powers, seeders, horse-rakes, 
plows, cultivators, harrows, and all kin<ls of farm machin- 
ery ; together with farm wagons and sleds, and all kinds 
of castings in common demand. It has usually eiiii)loyed 
about 30 hands, and its machinery is extensively known, 
and sales extend into other States. 

In 1872, S. P. and II. Z. Chandler purchased the interest 
of all the other partners, and the business has been carried 
on under the name of S. P. Chandler & Bro. In October, 
1874, the building was burned with all its appurtenances ; 
but the insurance upon it of over -$20,000 was promptly 
paid, and it is now being rebuilt on an enlarged scale, with 
the design on the opening of spring to enlarge its opera- 
tions beyond what has been done heretofore. 



WaJdsWohtm MKMoRtAL. 139 

MANIUFACTURE OF PAINTS. 

This business was starlet! in 1873, by a com])anY con-' 
sisting- of II. Z. (chandler. Philander Chandler, E. G. Loo- 
mis, Al)iel Briii'o-s, and Geov^'e Kino'sbnry, and a laro-p 
business in the manufafture of paints established. TJie 
factory is now owned and carried on by IT. Z. Clian'dler 
and William C. Burt. 

SASH, DOOIf. AND BLINDS 

Of this department of business there are two manufac- 
lories. witli sawmills attached. In 1807, J. G. Kulp, Sam. 
Nash, and Ephraim and Christian llunsberg'er erected the 
larger factory near the depot. It is now owned by J. TJ. 
Laiix. J. S. Oberlioltzer, and Paul AYall. In the diflerent 
departments of the business it employs from 12 to 15 
hands. 

In 1870, Abraham Yoder commenced the same business 
u.» the site of the old Loomis & Beach sawmill. It is now 
owned l)y a company consisting of A. Yocer. T. W. 
Screene, II. Hard, and D. Noll, under the business name 
of Yoder, Screene, & Co. Both establishments do a large 
business for the town and adjoining country. 

SPRING BED-BOTTOM MANUFACTORIES. 

There are three cstablishn.ients for tlie manufacture of 
spiral wire spring; bed bottoms. The business was first 
begun by P. C. and E. J. Hard, on a x^rinciple of fastening 
the spring patented by Dr. Hanson Hard. Dr. Hard him- 
self afterwards carried on the business about a year, and 
since that time W. N. Eyles and William Freeborn have 
continued the business at the old stand. They manufac- 
ture about 2,000 bed bottoms per annum. They also make 
spiral springs for chairs, and spring cushions and spring 
seats for wagons. 

In 1873, the Wadsworth Spring Bed Bottom Company 
was formed for manufacturing will) a spring fastening 



J40 WABsWORlil MEMORIAL. 

patented by P. C. Hard. In 1874, P. C. Hard boiioht the 
» shares of all the company. The business is now carried 
on by P. C. and E. J. Hard. They send off 5000 per an- 
num. Tliey also do a large business in the manulacture of 
single spring cots for hotels, boarding-houses, college 
rooms, etc. 

There is also another shop of more recent origin, by 
D. S. Greenwald. 

All of these manufactures are of the same style of spi- 
ral wire ; their principal difference being in the mode of 
fastening the springs, whicli each is able to demonstrate to 
their customers is better than all the others. 

( ARRIAGE MANUFACTURES. 

This business was started about 1838, by George Beach 
and H. J. Traver, and has been continued at the old stand 
since that time, under the names of H. J. Traver, Traver & 
Co., Stevenson, Browning, & Steele, and since 1872 by 
A. P. Steele and L. E. Browning as the firm of Browning 
& Steele. The establishment gives employment to about 
20 hands, and will compete with any similar one in the 
beauty and finish of its wagons and carriages. 

From 1807 to 1873, Josiah Andrews carried on the wag- 
on making business at the old stand formerly occupied by 
his brother, Capt. Edward Andrews, deceased. In 1873, 
he enlarged the business by adding the manufacture of car- 
riages. The establishment, though new, has obtained a 
good reputation. It gives employment to about 10 hands- 

WADSWORTH WOOLEN MILL. 

Proprietors, William Aspinall, Robert Aspinall, and 
Hiram Yockey. Firm address, Aspinal, Yockey, & Co. 

This establishment manufactures all-wool goods, such as 
cloth flannels, blankets, jeans, satinets, and all varieties of 
stocking yarn. The machinery consists of one wool-pick- 
er, five carding-machines, and one spinning-macliine. It 



WAbsvV^oRTrt MiiMORtAL 141 

iBinploys 4 hands in this department. Average amount of 
wool used per day,' 80 pounds. The weaving room con- 
tains 7 narrow cloth and flannel looms, and one broad 
blanket loom. Amount of flannel per day from one loom, 
40 yards ; cloth, 25 yards ; blankets, 25 yards ; one hand to 
each loom. The stocking yarn machinery consists of one 
twister and one dou])ler, each employing one hand. The 
finishing department contains one dyer to dye wool, flan- 
nel, and yarn ; one finisher to finish bolts and goods ready 
for market ; one wool-scourer to clean all the wool. Num- 
ber of hands employed in all the departments, 18. The 
amount of wool consumed per annum is about 8,000 lbs. 

ORGAN MANUFACTORY. 

In 1874, Messrs Solomon Werley and James Scott com- 
menced the manufacture of reed organs. Their work is ot 
superior quality. They claim for their organs superiority 
in quickness of speech, and power. They are young men, 
without large capital, doing their own work ; but their 
))usiness, for a new enterprise, is prosperous. Their work 
is receiving favor and gaining ground, with promise of 
future success. 

MARBLE WORKS. 

A manufactory for monuments and furniture marl)le 
was commenced in April, 1874. It is doing a prosperous 
business, making excellent work. 

There are also the usual shops which every village de- 
mands, among which are the shoe shops of Lyon & Funk, 
Pleifter & Hunsberger, Koplin, A. 0. Beck & Son, and 
M. Bender ; the harness shops of W. E. Beardsley and 
Joseph Rech; and cigar manufactory of Yoder & Gun- 
saulis. 

FURNITURE. 

There are two well -stocked furniture stores, with cabi- 



\43i WadsWortii meMoiuaL 

not shops .ittaclied. Tliose of Jonas Wuchter. an<l Epiira- 
im Kremer. 

MERCANTILE. 

Tlie whole juinihcr of retail stores of all kinds, large and 
small, is a little over thirty. Of these, there are the gen- 
eral retail stores of dry-goods, groceries, and qneensware, 
of Daykin & IJilliard, and of L. S. Gilbert, with large as- 
sortments of goods ; the clothing" and merchant tailoring 
estahlishment of Dnrling & Woodward, first established 
l)y James K. Dnrling, James Daykin, and John J. Wood- 
ward; and that of TI. Bolich & Co. ; each doing an exten- 
sive business. 

The hardware and iron store, establised in 18G5 by E. 
Benedict and C. T. (Uitlbrd, has been owned by C. T. Clif- 
ford alone since 1807. lie has bnilt up a large hardware 
trade where before tlie people went to Akron for all goods 
in that lino. Since that time, S. T. Franks & Son have 
opened a tuU store of the same kind, and Kreider Brotliers 
another for the sale of stoves and tinware. What in 1805 
seemed a hazardous business for one firm, has now growni 
into a large and prosperous one for three. 

The grocery stores of I. G. Griesemer, of Nice & Foster, 
of Nice and Hunsbergcr, and of S. Burr, arc doing a good 
business. 

There are two watch, clock, and jewelry establishments, 
by C. II. Wood and M. C. Burdoin. Tw^o flour and feed 
stores, by II. N. Ilickox, and E. Stucker. The drug store 
of W. P. Curtis, with a large and full assortment; and 
that of J. D. Boss, also well supplied. There are also two 
millinery stores, by^Miss E. J. Fisher, and Mistresses Cha- 
pin & Wilcox. 

PASTORS OF THE CHURCHES. 

Bev. Edward Brown, pastor ot the Congregational 
church, was the fourth son of Judge Frederick Brown, 



WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 143 

who is often luciitioiied in tlie ])ioncei' portion of this his- 
torv. He was born in Coll)rook,('t., Nov. 1st, 1814. He 
came witli the family to Wadsworth in Ma)-, 1816, and 
spent most of his early years here. Was educated at 
Western Reserve Colleg-e, Hudson. Removed to Indiana 
in 1840, and engaged in teaching in Peru and Logansporl. 
and as principal of Lagrange CoUeghite Institute, Ontario, 
Tnd. Studied law with Stuart & Diddle, of Logansport, 
and practiced as an attorney and counselor at law in Lima, 
Indiana, Otsego, Michigan, and Wliitewatcr, Wisconsin ; 
in all about 9 years. Left the legal profession for the niin- 
istry, nnd commenced his labors at Wautoma, Wisconsin, 
In 1852. Was ordained at Green Bay, Jan. 13th, 1853. 
Preached at Wautoma, Waukau, Fond du Lac, La Crosse, La 
Crosse Valley, Wis., and at Zumbrota, and Medford, Min- 
nesota. Commenced his hibors at Wadsworth Aug. 8th, 
1874. 

Rev. S. C. Goss. pastor of the Reformed church, Avas 
born in Basil, Fairiield county, Ohio, in July, 1841, and 
entered upon his collegiaie studies at Heidelberg College, 
at Tiffin, in August, 1857, graduating in June, 1862. He 
enlisted in the 90th Regiment, O. V. I., in the following 
August, and served as a private for two years ; after which 
he returned to Tiffin and began his theological studies? 
graduating in May, 1866. Was licensed at the synod a^ 
Gallon, in the same month, and in August of the same 
year came to Wadsworth, and was ordained in October, 
1866. 

Rev. S. B. Leiter (Reformed) was born April 19th, 1809, 
and reared near Leitersburg, Washington county, Mary- 
land, and educated for the ministry at the theological in- 
stitutions of the Reformed church located at York, Penn- 
sylvania. He was licensed by the Maryland chassis iji 
1835, and ordained at Hagarstown in November of the 
same year. Was sent West soon after by the Board of 
Missions, and located at Mauslicld, At the end of 9 years 



144 WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 

he moved to Rome, Richland county, where he lived five 
years ; then moved to Navarre, Stark county, where he re- 
sided for 18 years, coming- to Wadsworth in April, 1868, 
])reaching- in each of those places. His present charge is 
Emmanuel's Church. He received the honorary degree of 
D. I), from Heidelberg Colleg(}. 

Rev. C. F. W. Cronemeyer, pastor of the Church of 
Christ (Disciple), was born in Detwold, Germany, April 
4th, 1840. Emigrated to America in 1855. Graduated at 
Tetlerson College, Cannonsburg, Pa., in 1865. Ordained 
to the ministry at New Baltimore, Ohio. Has labored in 
New Baltimore, and Strectsborough. Came to Wadsworth 
and commenced his pastoral work July 1st, 1872. 

Rev. A. Pollock, pastor of the Methodist E. church, 
was born March 17th, 1837, in Washington township, 
Richland county, Ohio. He is of Scotch-Irish descent' 
lie entered the ministry in the fall of 1861. His fields of 
labor have been Port Clinton, Clarksfield, Milan, Medina, 
llichfield, Penfield, and Wadsworth. Received a classical 
education in a private school. 

Rev. E. Hunsbcrger, pastor of the Mennonite church? 
was born in Montgomery county. Pa., in 1814, and com- 
menced preaching in that place in 1850. He removed to 
Wadsv^orth in 1853. 

• 

PHYSICIANS. 

Dr. C. N. Lyman, son of George Lyman, was born in 
Wadsworth, Mar. 9tli, 1819. Studied with Drs. G. K. Par- 
dee and E. Kendrick. Graduated at Medical department 
of Transylvania University, Lexington, Ky. Commenced 
practice in Wadsworth in 1843. 

Dr. N. S. Everhard, seventh son of Ja(;ob Everhard, was 
born in Chippewa, Jan. 8th, 1841. Studied with Dr. A. 
Everhard, liipon, Wisconsin. Graduated at Cleveland 
Medical College. Commenced practice in Wadsworth in 
1868. 



WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 145 

Dr. "VY. A. BnVofs, son of Abie] Erigg-s, was born in 
Sharon, Jan. 22d, 1848. Sludied witli Dr. Lyman. Grad- 
uated at the Medical Department of Michigan University. 
Commenced i)ractice in A'\^adsworth in 1871. 

ATTORNEYS AT LAW. 

Aaron Pardee, the youngest of the Pardee brothers, 
prominent among the pioneers of Wadsworth, son of Eb- 
enezer and Anna Pardee, was born in Skeneateles, N". Y. 
Oct. 8th, 1808. Came to Wadswortb in 1824 Engaged in 
farming when a yonng man, bnt studied hiw in his leisure 
liours, until he accjiiired such a knowledge of it as to enti- 
tle him to admission to practice in the courts of the State. 
He was admitted to the bar in 1837. Since that time he 
lias followed that profession in Medina county. He has 
been twice elected to the Senate of the State ; was the 
fir^t Mayor of TVadsworth viljage; President of the School 
Board, and Justice of the Peace ; was Asssessor of Inter- 
nal Revenue, by api)ointment of President Lincoln. 

Henry Pardee, second son of Aaron, born in AYads- 
worth, was connected with his falher in legal business for 
several years. He is now Auditor of the county, at 
Medina. 

George K. Pardee, fourth son of Aaron, was born in 
Wadsworth, 1840. Studied law with his father, and has 
been engaged in the profession since 1871. 

Pulaski C. Hard, fourth son of Cyrus Hard, was born in 
Wadsworth, May 19th, 1831. Studied law with William 
Cunningham, Esq., at Canal FuHon. Graduated at the 
National Law School,* Balston Spa, IST. Y., in 1852. Com- 
menced practice in Waclsworth, 1853. 

WADSWORTH BAXK. 

This institution was established March 14th, 1873, with a 
capital of $50,000. Its present officers are : W. P. Curtis, 
J. K. Durling, II. Z. Chandler, E. G. Loomis, J. Lytle, Di- 
rectors ; John Lytle, President; A. L. Corman, Cashier. 



HISTORICAL SKETCH OF 

NORTON TOWNSHIP. 

The history of the coiiiilry or" which AVadsworth is the 
center, especially its pioneer history, can not be properly 
given without a brief sketch of each of tlie four adjoining 
townsliips. As in the early times the eastern part of 
Wadsworth formed one conimnnity with the western and 
northern portion of Norton ; the western with Guillord, 
and the southern witii Chippewa; while tlie eai'ly ^etllc- 
n:ent of Sharon was largely made up from Wadsworth — 
we shall devote a brief space to each, with such biograi)h- 
ical sketches of the more promiueul of the early settlers of 
each as can be obtained. 

The town of Norton, lying east of Wadsw^orth, witli it 
made up the original town of Wolf Creek, Portage county. 
On the organization of Medina county, it formed the 
i>ontheaster)i township. It was named from Birdseye 
Norton, one of the original proprietors of the land. On 
the organization of Summit county, Norton, with all in 
the 12lh range of townships, was set otl' from Medina 
county. 

The first wiiite man wiio had a liabitation in the town- 
ship, was the same John Holmes, or ''Indian Holmes," who 
resided previously lor a short time in Wadsworth. He 
had his cabin, guarded by four savage dogs, on W^olf 



WADSWORTII MEMORIAL. Ui 

Creek, when the first settlers came in ISU. His squaw 
wife was the pioneer in female niedieal practice, being 
a celebrated ''Indian doctoress," in r'oots and herbs. 

Ilohnes' account of liimself was that he was a native ot 
Enuiand. That he was in youth a clerk in a French trad- 
ing- establishment in Montreal, and was sent to Detroit 
with a small stock of goods to dispose of at a treaty coun- 
cil. That ids goods being stolen, he was afraid or ashamed ' 
to go back, and took up his abode with the Indians. 

The first sefJler was John Cahow, from Maryland, who 
came with his sons, James, William, George, and Thomas, 
in 1810. The n<'xt were James ]?ot)inson. from Otsego, 
N. Y.. and Basil Cahow. In 1811, Hinsdale Bates, with 
his sons, Lyman, Dennis, Talcott, and Curtis, settled south 
of Johnson's Corners. In 1812, his sons Nathan. Lyman, 
and Dennis, took up the land around what has from that 
time been know)i as Bates' Corners. 

In, 1813, Theodore H. Barmelee, from Coshen, Ct., and 
Henry Vanllyning, from Mohawk Valley, N. Y., with his 
sons, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Thomas, Henry, Andrew, 

and Sylvester. 

In 1815, Peter Waltz, jr., John O'Brien, Samuel Baker, 
Phineas Barnes, Benjamin P. Hoadly, Ambrose Palmer, 
Elisha Hinsdale, Scth Lucas and sons, Samuel, flarry, 
Setli, and William. 

In 1816, Joseph Ilclmes, Eifliraim Eoberts, I^Iills and 
Ezekiel Richards, Charles Lyon, and Abel Irish. 

In 1817, Dr. Miles Clark, and his brother, Judge Lyman 
Clark; Levi Canfield and sons, William, Levi, and Dr. Eli- 
sha; Elias Ilurlbutt, William Holmes, Joachim Wilson, 
Silas Bronson, Phineas Bronson ; Joseph Way and sons, 
Levi and Joseph; Joseph D. Humphrey, and John Hall; 
Samuel Green and sons, Alanson, William, Almon, and 
Philander; Peter Mills and William Carpenter. 

In 1818, Clement Clark and son, Levi Clark ; Hazehial 
and William Ward. 



148 wadsworTh memoiual. 

In 1819, Jonathan Taylor and Chauncej^ Gilbert built a 
sawmill on Wolf Creek, in the northeast part of the town- 
ship. In 1825, James Taylor, brother of J. Taylor, was 
killed by a sawlog rolling over his body. 

In 1828, Thomas Johnson built tlie Mill on Hudson's 
Kuii, at what is known as Johnson's Corners. In 1832, lie 
built another on the sanie stream, below the first. In rais- 
ino-this mill, Dennis Bates was accidentally knocked oft* 
the top, and instantly killed. 

New Portage, first laid out as a village by And>rose 
Palmer and Ephraim Roberts, was at an early day a flour- 
ishing village for so new a country. In 1823, Dr. JVliles 
Clark, and one or two partners, set up a manufactory of 
glass, which did considerable business, but was suspended 
on his death in 1827. 

The vicinity of the great swamp, and of the marslies of 
the Tuscarawas and Wolf Cieek, made the people of the 
place peculiarly subject to malarious fever, almost entire 
families being swept off. For a time, in 1824, only Dr. 
Clark and his brother were able to take care of the sick. 
In 1826, so great was the sickness that the village was al- 
most entirely deserted. The draining of the Tuscarawas 
marshes by the completion of the Ohio Canal, and clearing 
up and draining of the swamps in subsequent years, re- 
moved the cause, so that itjias been healthy in later years. 

Amongthe early settlers who took i)art in the Revolution, 
not before mentioned, were Henrv Vanllvning, Hinsdale 
Bates, Samuel Baker, Phineas Bronson, Silas Bronson, 
Phineas Barnes, Cato Mead, Hosea Wilcox. 

The first settlers coming just before the war of 1812, 
were in continual fear of being massacred by the hostile 
Indians, those in their viciuity seeming to be waiting the 
issue to decide on which side to array themselves. 

It is related of John Cahow that he built a small stock- 
ade around his house, and his only window was a hole 
through the logs, opened and closed by a thick sliding 



Wads WORTH memorial. 149 

plank. VaiiHyning and Kirkiim had bought their lands 
in 1812, but remained, the first in Northampton, and the 
other in Stow^ townsliip, till after Perry's victory on Lake 
Erie, and the defeat of General Proctor and Tecumseh by 
General Harrison. The tacts related by them in after years 
will illustrate the anxiety felt by the pioneers in those 
days. 

News had come of the British ileet on Lake Erie, bring- 
ing troops to destroy (^leveland and overrun Ohio, and it 
was expected that, should they land, the Indiaiis would rise 
and come upon them, to exterminate by indiscriminate 
butchery. 

Kirkum and Judge Wetmore, then living at Stow Lake, 
had their goods packed and teams ready, to start at the 
first warning of deteat. Couriers had been stationed from 
Cleveland to Canton, to give the first news. Sept. 9th, 
news came that Perry was on his way with his improvised 
fleet, to meet the enemy. I will give Vanllyning's story 
as told by himself, when nearly 100 years old, to Charles 
Coe, from whom I have it: 

" I was, on the morning of Sept. 10th, plowing upon a 
high hill, in Northampton township; and I heard in the 
northwest a low sound, like a distant cannon-shot. Soon 
I heard it again. Soon the third. I stopped my team, and 
climbed a tree to look and listen. In a i'ew minutes the 
sounds came so frequent that I knew the battle had begun. 
I unyoked my oxen, and hurried to the house. My wife 
was weaving. Said I, Woman, the battle has begun. I 
have heard the cannon. I will take old White and ride to 
Wallace's tavern (Northfield, about 12 miles), and get the 
first news. If word comes to j-ou that we are defeated, 
have the boys yoke the oxen to the wagon, put on what 
goods you can, cut your piece from the loom, and start for 
Canfield, and I will overtake you. 

" I went to Wallace's, and, with a room full of men, sat 
up till 1 o'clock, when a man rushed in, yelling, ' Hurrah ! 



250 WADSWORTII MEMORIAL. 

Perry's whipped the Britisli !' We all sprung up, and hur- 
rahed at the top of our voices. I swung- my old hat till I 
tore off the brim. At daylight I started for home. 1 
found my wife at tlie loom. Says I, Weave on, woman, 
weave on ! we are victorious ! Now, boys, we'll get ready 
and move to Wolf Creek.'' 

But few remnants of the original families remain in the 
township. For that reason it has been found impossible to 
uet at manv facts and names of its earlv historv. The 
township is one of excellent land, with extensive mines of 
coal in the southwestern portion, and quarries of buikling 
stone in the northeastern. It has within its area, six small 
villages: New Portage and Dennison on the railroad, 
Bates' Corners, Norton Center, Jolmson's Corners, and part 
of Western Stai*. In those there are five church edifices, 
and commodious schoolhouses. 



HISTORICAL SKETCH OF 
CHIPPEWA TOWNSHIP. 

The township of Chippewa, in Wayne connty, lies south 
of Wadsworth, and the line of the Western llcserve. 
This line in pioneer times was called the " Congress Line/' 
and hv tiiose south of it, the '' Yankee Line." 

The first settlers were mostly from Pennsylvania, and 
the greater part of German origin, who retained the Ger- 
man language, and maintained German schools for many 
years. On that account there was only limited acquaint- 
ance between them and the New England poi-tion of the 
people of AYadsw^orth, w^hile the German portion formed 
with them one community. The old pioneers are mostly 
dead, or removed from the locality, and from the facts he- 
fore stated, it has been almost inijossible to get at any cer- 
tain history of the first settlement. 

The first settlers seem to have been Nicholas Helmick 
and sons, John, Adam, and Michael, in about 1812. 

Among the earliest, from 1814 to 1818, were Peter Waltz' 
sr., and sons, John and David; Jacob Everhard, Thomas 
Frederick, Henry Shook; Henry Franks and sons, John, 
Michael, Henry, Abraham, and Uriah, and his brothers, 
John and Jacob ; Jacob Hatlield, John Routson ; John, 
George, and AYilliam Halloway ; David Johns; Henry, 
John, and Charles lieckerthorn ; John Aiise, John Brown, 



252 WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 

Michael Brouse, Joseph Toiisley, Rev. Henry Wj^o^ant, 
William Graham, Ebeiiezer Andrus, Wm. Middleton. Wm. 
Parks, John Porter. A little later, Peter and William 
Colbetzer, John Betts, Simon Elliott, John Lee, Jacob 
Yonker, John and Arnold Heffleman, Adam Shatto, Isaac 
Montgomery, Wm. Foster, Daniel Doyle, Joseph Springer ; 
Alexander Woods, Alfred Chidister, Ephraim Chidister, 
Chi'istian Koplin, Christian Wall, Frederick Galehonse 
and sons, David, John, Sannicl, and Elias ; George and W. 
Wellhonse. TTenry Ilontz, Thomas Harkins. 

Abont 1818, Daniel Slanker built the mill 4 miles south 
of Wadsworth village, owned for upwards of 30 years by 
George Wellhouse, and since by Benjamin Harshy. 

About the same time, John l^ced built the mill after- 
wards owned by AlexandeV Woods. About 1830 or 1831, 
Ephraim and Alfred Chidister built a sawmill and woolen 
factory on the same stream (still owned by A. Chidister, 
son of Alexander), and John Brown a gristmill, still far- 
ther down. 

In an early day a village was located on the east line of 
the township, by Messrs. Harvey, and the first store in the 
township opened by Dr. Porter. The location of Clinton 
and Fulton, on the canal, destroyed the village. 

Two other villages were located in the early times. 
Slankerville, now Easton Station, on the Tuscarawas Val- 
ley R. R., now becoming a place of business. Doylestown, 
laid out by Daniel Doyle, is now a flourishing village, sup- 
porting a weekly paper, having several stores, a large man- 
ufactory of reapers and mowers and other agricultural 
implements. It has a good graded school, and five church 
edifices; Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran, Disciple, and 
Catholic. There is one churcli building at Slankerville, 
built as a Union meeting-house. 



HISTORICAL SKETCH OF 

SHARON TOWNSHIP. 

This township, lying north of Wads worth, at the time 
of the settlement of the other townships was owned by 
the minor heirs of William Hart and Samuel Mather, two 
of the original Connecticut Land Company, and was not 
brought into market till 1828. Till 1829 it was known as ' 
Hart and Mather's town. 

It was a famous hunting-ground for the hunters of the 
adjoining towns, and abounded in deer, bears, turkeys, 
wolves, wild hogs, and rattlesnakes. It was a favorite 
roost in their season for wild pigeons ; hickory-nuts and 
chestnuts abounded ; and its ricii and inviting lands were 
quickly bought up when they were put into market by 
General Simon Perkins, of Warren agent for the heirs. 

The first settlers were what at the West have been 
known as " squatters,'' of whom there were several who 
located their farms and cleared them up, running their 
chances of securing them when brought into market. The 
first law was " Squatter Sovereignty." 

Of these, only one, C. McFarlin, found a neighbor mean 
enough to undermine him. The first of these was David 
Point, from Otsego county, N. Y., who settled in the 
northeast corner of the township, in 1816. Others who 
settled in the same way wei'e Abram Valland, Lyman 



254 WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 

Green, Charles McFarlm, and David Holmes. About 
1818, William and John Tuff settled on the southwest cor- 
ner lot, remained about two years, and returned to Ver- 
mont. 

The first birth in the township was that of Jane Point, 
now Mrs. George Vaughn, of Allen county, Indiana, born 
in 1818. The second, Stephen Green. The first death, an 
infant child of Point, in 1822. The first mariage, Joseph 
Willey and Melinda McFarlin, in 1829. 

As soon as the land was put into market, the township, 
which was well known in every part, was rapidly settled 
up. Among the earliest who purchased were Samuel M. 
Hayden and Hiram Hayden his son; Freeman Austin, 
Jonathan Everhard, Jehiel Squires. Almon Brown, David 
Loutzenheizer, Norman Curtis, and Stanton Bennett, from 
Wadsworth. Cicero Phelps and Col. Luther Fitch, from 
Connecticut. Edward Chandler; Artemas Palmeter and 
sons, Jason, Artemas, Ezra, and Sylvester; Horace and 
Milo Gibbs; Esq. Wm. Chatfield and sons, Guy C, Milton 
M., William, Mina, Lewis C. ; John Birge, W^illiam Case ; 
Cyrus M.Johnson and sons, William, Sheldon, Homer, and 
Samuel, and his nephew, Martin Johnson. Peter A. 
Mocre, from Scotland. Barnabas Crane and sons, Wash- 
ington, William, Barnabas, and Joseph; Thomas Briggs 
and sons, Daniel and Abiel, from Massachusetts. Jacob 
Rudesill, Erastus S. Bissell, Jonathan Thomas, Valentine 
Waltman, Mark Smith, George Lowerman, Peter Hart- 
man, George Mellick, Peter Bogg, Richard Amerman, 
Reuben Fairchild. Jonn Barker, Silas Chandler; these 
came between 1830 and 1836. 

The township was surveyed by Peter A. Moore and 
George W. White, and at the suggestion of Mr. Moore 
was called Cask, after his native place in Scotland. But 
the name being distasteful to many, it was, three months 
afterward, by legislative act, changed to Sharon. 

In 1833, a company of emigrants from England settled in 



• Wadsworth memorial. 155 

the nortlieastern part of the township. Some of the most 
prominent were William Woodward, John Woodward, 
Joseph Daykin, Thomas Calvert, Joseph Brunskel, James 
Pratt. They were sober, intelligent, and industrious citi- 
izens; their farms models of order and good culture, and 
their cliildren and grandchildren are now among the lead- 
ing business men in the different parts of the country. 

The first election in Sharon was held in 1831. Votes 
cast, 75. Peter A. Moore, Samuel M. Hayden, and Charles 
McFarlin were elected Trustees ; Jacob Rudesill Clerk ; 
Col. Luther Fitch, Treasurer ; Jonathan Smith, Justice of 
the Peace ; Mark Smith Constable. 

The first Post Master was Col. Luther Fitch ; appointed 
in 1833. 

The first retail store was established by John Birge. 
Tlie first public house by Milo and Horace Gibbs. 

The first physician was Dr. Andrew Armstrong; suc- 
ceeded by Dr. Isaac B. Beech. 

CHURCHES. 

The first church organization was the Methodist, in 1832. 
First members, Charles McFarlin, Irene McFarlin, Almira 
McFarlin, Valentine Waltman, Achsah Waltman, George 
Lowerman, Polly Lowerman, Martha Moore, Harriet Skin- 
ner, and Rebecca Smith. James Wilson first pastor in 
charge. In 1812, they built a house of worship at Sharon 
Center. 

A Congregational church was organized about 1833 or 
'34, and built a house of worship, also at the Center. As 
the church has been for several years extinct, on account 
of removals and death of the old members, and change of 
population, the old records can not be found, nor names of 
original members. They were, however, of the families 
of Luther ]''itch, Dea. C. M. Johnson and sons, Eev. W., 
and Sheldon; Dea. II. Fairchild, the Messrs. Ammerman, 
J. A. Bennett, and some others whose names can not now 



\^Q WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 

be obtained. Rev. William Johnson was their pastor for 
several years. They had no other. He was a man of su- 
perior scholarship, and strong reasoning power. He was 
highly respected by his acquaintances. 

There was also a Universalist society organized not far 
from the same time as was the Congregational. The 
house built by them was so constructed as to answer the 
double purpose of a church and an academy building. 
Among the early members were the families of Norman 
Curtis, William Chatlield, Barnabas (Jrane, Thomas Briggs, 
S. M. Hayden, Daniel Briggs, and William Crane. Tlie 
niinisters were Alvin Dinsmore, George H. Vibbert, 1. T*. 
Henry, and Hervey Evans. 

For several years there was a largo Lutheran chur(th, 
which is now disbanded. 

SHARON ACADEMY. 

This was incorporated in 1835, and was the first year un- 
der the tuition of John McGregor. Afterwards was 
taught six years by Rev. Alvin Dinsmore, an accomplished 
scholar and teacher ; and for a nimiber of terms more by 
E. J. Reynolds, Mr. Longley, Gccrge Rudesill, and Rev. 
I. R. Henry, all able instructors. The academy was sus- 
pended in 1865, since which time there has been a graded 
school. 

In 1835, a public library, having a full assortment of 
books, was established. This was sold in 1854, and was 
superseded by a larger library, from the State ; a part of 
the Ohio school library system. This was doubled in 1859, 
and is still held by the town. 

Sharon Center is a very pleasant village, situated on an 
eminence, one of the highest points in the State, and com- 
manding a view of a most beautiful farming cou)itry, for 
miles around. The township forms part of the water-shed 



Wadsworth memorial. 157 

between the streams running- to Lake Erie, and the Ohio 
River. Wolf Creek, the remotest head of Muskingum 
River, has its rise in the western part of the township, as 
also Rocky River, emptying into Lake Erie, both starting- 
from the same swamp. 

Coal-mines exist in the southeastern part of the town- 
sliip. The township is admirably adapted to the raising 
of all kinds of fruit of this climate; especially peaches. 



HISTORICAL SKETCH OF 
GUILFORD TOWxNSHIP. 

The township of Guilford lies west from Wadsworth, 
and at first formed a part of the town. It was originally 
owned by Justin Ely, of Springfield, Massachusetts, Rog- 
er Newbury, of Windham, Enoch Perkins, of Hartford, 
and Elijah White, of Hudson, Ct., each owning one 
quarter. 

The first settlers were Henry Hosmer, Chester Hosmer, 
Mary T. Hosmer, Lyman Munson, Moses Noble, and Shu- 
bal Porter. They were from Southwick and Westfield, 
Mass. In the same year, John and David Wilson began 
in the northeast corner of the township, the site of the 
present village of River Styx, and William Moore in the 
northwest quarter. 

The Hosmers, Porter, and Munson built the first log 
house where the village of Seville now stands. It was a 
post of Indian villages before that time, or a favorite place 
for erecting their wigwams in their hunting expeditions. 
The broad bottom lands of Chippewa and Hubbard's 
Creek aflbrded one of the best hunting-grounds for moose 
(or elk), and deer ; and the swamps around Chippewa 
Lake for bears and wolves ; and the lake and both streams 
aflTorded a great supply of fish. 

During this year, William Hosmer, the father of Henry 



WADSWOJRTH MEMORIAL. 159 

and Chester, made the journey trom South wick, Mass., on 
foot, and settled with his sons. In 1818, the year the coun- 
ty was organized, William Walcott, Elijah Porter, and 
Timothy Phelps came into the township. 

The first marriage was that of David Wilson and Abigal 
Porter, by Esq. Salmon Warner, of Wadsworth. The first 
child born was William Walcott, in 1819. He died at five 
j^ears of age. The first death was that of a child of Ly- 
man and Nancy Munson. In 1819, Dr. John Smith, Sam- 
uel Owen, Wm. H. Bell, John and James Crawford, and 
Jonas Stiles came into the township. 

The township was organized in 1819. Nine votes were 
polled at the first election. Voters names, John Saiith, 
Wm. H. Bell, Timothy Phelps, Samuel Owen, John Craw- 
ford, Wm. Walcott, Jonas Stiles, and John Wilson. John 
Smith first Justice of the Peace ; Wm. H. Bell, Lyman 
Munson, John Wilson Trustees; Jonas Stiles, Township 
Clerk. 

The first election for State and county officers was held 
Oct. 16th, 1820, There were thirteen votes cast, all tor 
Ethan Allen Brown, Governor; John Sloan, of Wooster, 
for Representative in Congress ; Jonathan Foster, of Por- 
tage county, for Senator ; Jonathan Sloan, of Ravenna, for 
Representative ; Ebenezer Harris, Arvis S. Chapman, and 
Stephen Sibley County Commissioners. 

In 1820, Jacob Munson, Jotham Curtis, Samuel Owen? 
John Bell, Nathan Scranton, and Jonathan Nye be- 
came residents ; and in 1821, Elijah Porter, Dea. James 
Bell, Robert Wilson, Lewis Wilson, Moses Shaw, H. N. 
Pool, Jacob VanVleet, and Chauncey Barker, who opened 
the first store in Guilford. 

In 1822, Dr. John Harris, David Clute, Oliver Houghton, . 
Ambrose Houghton, James Ilarkness, Judah Dodge, Asa- 
hel Parmenter, and Miles McCabe. In 1823, Apollos Dean, 
Noah Hatch, William Wilson, and J. A. Johnson. 

Fiom that period settlers came rapidly in, and the town- 



150 WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 

ship was soon taken up. The first furrow was plowed by 
Shubal Porter. The first frame building (a barn) was 
built by Henry Ilosmer. 

In 1826, a mail route was established from New Portage 
to 'New Haven. Huron county, and William Hosmer was 
appointed P. M. Robert Insco, of Greenfield, Huron co., 
was mail carrier. 

In 1828, the road now known as the Pike was laid from 
Cleveland to "Wooster. It had been cut out from Medina 
to the county line, as a county road, the previous year. 
In 1828, a line of stage coaches was established from 
Cleveland to Columbus over this road, by Jarvis Pike & 
Co., of Columbus. This, before railroads, was the great 
thoroughfare of travel from Cleveland to Cincinnati. 

In June, 1828, James Crawford, jr., was driving the 
stage between Seville and Medina, when, in the midst of 
the woods, a shower and a heavy wind came upon them, 
and a tree was blown down which killed three of the 
horses. There were six passengers in the coach, who, with 
the driver, escaped unhurt. 

The village of Seville was laid out on the land of Henry 
Hosmer, by Nathaniel Bell, (younty Surveyor, in 1828. 
About 1826, another post-ofRoe was established at River 
Styx ; David Wilson, P. M. About 1834, Skitter & Over- 
holtz erected a large building for a store at the corners, and 
from that beginning the village of River Styx has grown 
up. 

David and John Wilson had built a house of basswood 
logs, 10 by 6 feet, roofed with the same and chinked 
with moss, and chopped about two acres. They had dried 
a large quantity of venison, and salted dowu a considera- 
ble quantity in a trough. While absent two months, hav- 
ing returned to their old home at Warren, the wildcats 
found their way into the cabin, and devoured the venison. 

Their bed was made of deerskins stretched upon poles, 
with one blanket for a covering. Their food Avas corn 



WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 161 

bread, which they had to go trve miles to get, roasted pota- 
toes, voiison, bear meat, wild turkeys, with spice-bush tea 
sweetened with wild honey t^iken from " bee trees." The 
Wilson brothers once killed upwards of 80 rattlesnakes at 
their den. They were very numerous in the early days. 
Three young men were bitten by them, in one neighbor- 
hood south of Wilson's Corners ; Joshua Shaw, Jefferson 
Curtis, and Ezra Hatch. 

In 1821, Elijah Porter, a Revolutionary soldier, procured 
a horse of his son-in-law, David Wilson, and started for 
Medina, to sign the papers necessary to draw his pension. 
The horse returned at night without the rider, with blood 
upon the stirrup. The neighbors started with lanterns, 
and found him in the "Four Miles Woods,'' near Mont- 
ville Center, sitting by a beech-tree, one boot taken off and 
nearly full of blood. When toucked. he faintly said, " Let 
me be ! let me be !" A deep, rough wound was found on 
his leg, in the shape of a letter D, supposed to have been 
done in riding round the roots of an upturned tree. He 
was placed upon a horse, another man sitting behind him 
to support him, the horse led by another. After they had. 
gone a short distance, he waved his right hand a moment, 
and expired. He was buried in the ground west of River 
STyx ; the first white man who was buried in Guilford. 

CHURCHES. 

In an early day a Methodist class was formed at Wilson's 
Corners, David Wilson, class leader. Another at the cen- 
ter of the township, Reuben Case, leader. 

A Baptist church, in connection with Westfield, also ex- 
isted, of which I can procure no authentic record. Elder 
Rufus Freeman, sr.. pastor. 

A Congregational church was organized at Seville, June 
25th. 1831. First members, Dea. James Bell, Mrs. Isabella 
Bell, James P. Smith, Mrs. V^iolet Smith, Thomas White- 
side, Mrs. Anna W. WWteside, Abraham Whiteside, Sarah 



1B2 WADSWORTJI MEMORIAL. 

Case, Jane Colburn, Sarah Collins, Laura Cook. Rev : 
Yaniiini Noyes past<:>r, who continued his pastorate 40 
years. In 1834, its iorm was chau^jfed to Prosbyteriaji ; 
Dnvid D. Dowd and Thomas Wliiteside, elders. 

In 1838, another Congregational church was organized, 
which was supplied by several dilTerent niiuisters ; no set- 
tled pastor. 

A Lutheran ohurch, with a good house of worship, has ex- 
isted in the eastern part of the township for many years. 
Also one of the Old Mennonites; part of the membership 
of each living in Wadsworth. 



■» 



Tlie village of Seville, situated at tlie junction of Chip- 
pewa and Hubbard's Creek, is a very pleasant village of 
about 900 inhabitants. The Tuscarawas Valley Railroad 
passes through it. and has a depot and large warehouse. 
There are two flourmills, a manufactory of clothes-wrii>g- 
ers, planing-mill, and agricultural ujachinc factory, with a 
good suj)ply of retail stores, and mechanics' shops. It 
contains lour church buildings : Presbyterian, Methodist, 
Tiaptist, and Congregational (the latter now unused). It 
sustains a weekly paper, called the Seville Ihne^-, estab- 
lished in March, 1872, by Roberts & Coulter. There is also 
a juvenile monthly published there, called the Apple 
Blossom. 

The village of River Styx is in the northeast corner of 
the township, in the valley of the headwaters of the Mus- 
kingum and Rocky River. It has two retail stores, and 
the usual mechanics' shops of a country village. "River 
Styx," once the dread of travelers, since the draining of 
the swamps has shrunk into an insignilicant brook, ju 
suujmer almost dry. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF 
PIONEER SETTLERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, 

It is impossible in most cases to g\vG more than meaoor 
outlines of the history of tlie early settlers, from the difli- 
ciilty, in the absence of public records, of obtaining accu- 
rate data. 

The Ameiican people seem to have run to the opposite 
extreme from those, especially of wealthy, aristocratic fam- 
ilies, of the Old World. Instead of cherishinti: the memory 
of their ancestors, and treasurintf with religious care their 
family records and transmitting them to their descendants, 
there has been an almost universal inditference. This is 
traceable to the fact that, especially in tlie Northern State-, 
tlie early immigrants were too glad to escape from the 
chiss and family distinctions, with the exactions of hom- 
age, the oppressions, tlie restraints and restrictions, that for 
centuries had created an artificial state of society, and re- 
pressed the development of true manhood, in the mother 
country. The new freedom from Old- World caste natural- 
ly bred an indifleronce, each man caring only to stand on 
his individual manhood, regardless of the question wheth- 
er his ancestor was a lord or a serf. A pride even in in- 
ditference to their origin. As a poet, addressing one 
proud of an ancestral name, says : 

" Your pride is not so great as mine; 
Too proud to care from whence I came." 



1()4 WADSWOIITH MKMoiliAL. 

From this extreme there is beginning to be a healthy 1*6- 
action. The need of authentic records, as the country 
grows older and estates begin to enlarge, is more and 
more felt, and will be still more felt and regretted in time 
to come ; so that every attempt to rescue the names of the 
fathers from oblivion will become a blessing to future gen- 
erations. The extent of this inditi'orence and ignorance, 
no one can realize so fully as those wlio set out to gather 
such records. The compiler has in '<ome cases found intel- 
ligent persons, in the prime of life, who did not know the 
Christian names of their grandparents. Many families 
have moved away, leaving no relatives, and nothing can be 
said of them but that they once lived here. Others are 
wholly forgotten. 

These records, from these various reasons, must neces- 
sarily be imperfect. an(J the intended size of the book de- 
mands brevity. It is tlie compiler's aim to do justice to 
all, to give credit and praise where justly due, and peri)et- 
uate nothing that shall wound the feelings of any living- 
relative or descendant; preserving only the good, and 
letting the failings of poor, fallible humanity rest in liu- 
manity's grave. 

The names will be given in alphabetical order, witliont 
reference to the towns they lived in, except in the body of 
the notice. 

THE AGARD FAMILY. 

Benjamin Agard, a native, it is supposed, of Long 
Island, was born in 1700. Married Rhoda, daughter of 
Issachar Loomis, and sister of Joseph Loomis. He 
moved from Colbrook, Connecticut, in the winter of 1816, 
in company with his brother-in-law, Joseph Loomis. 

Coming in winter, they took the wheels from their wag- 
ons and put them on sleds, with boxes on top with their 
goods, and came most of the way in that manner on the 
snow. He bought a large tract of land in the northeast 






WADSWOIITII AJEMOUiAL \Qq 

p.'lrt of Wadsworth, and cleared up a lai-ge farm. He 
built the fn-st frame house in the township, iu 1824; the 
same now owned by Philip Sours. 

He was a very careful farmer, of great prudence and 
economy in saving- everything, and keeping everything in 
order, and always holding a supply over for the next year. 

Alvin Agard, eldest son of B. Agard, was born in Col- 
brook, Ct., in 1797, and died July 29th, 1837. He was an 
industrious farmer, cf very dillident and retiring disposi- 
tion, but little known even by his neighbors. He was a 
man of much reading, intelligence, and observation. For 
many years he kept a complete meteorological record, on a 
plan of his own, noting the temperature at 6, 12, and 6 
o'clock, the direction of the wind, and the rain and snow 
falls. A record that, if preserved by his descendants 
might be valuable for reference or comparison. He mar- 
ried Lucy, daughter of Salmon Warner. Dr. Aurelius 
Agard, of Sandusky City, was his son. 

Roman Loomis Agard was born in Colbrook, Ct., in 1805. 
Married a Miss Wright. He was a member of the Con- 
gregational church, and a worthy citizen. Died June 3d, 
1846. No descendants of the Agard family now remain in 
Wadsworth. 

EBENEZER ANDKUS. 

Came from Vermont about 1818, and settled just over 
the line in Chippewa, on the farm which was the residence 
of the late Green Smith. He was a mcn;ber of the Con- 
gregational church of Wadsworth. A man of intelligence 
and strong mind, and earnest piety, greatly beloved for his 
kindliness and benevolence. For several years he did 
great service in keeping up the meetings known as Dea- 
cons' meetings on the Sabbath, for which he came regular- 
ly on foot, a walk of four miles, though quite inlirm. His 



j[(jfi WAbsVvURTIl MEMokLvL 

influence for good on the new settlements in the i\V6 
townships is still remembered by the aged pioneers. He 
returned to Vermont about 1826. 

Eoswell Aldrich came about 1828 to the western part of 
Wadsworth. Date of death unknown. 

THE BARTHOLOMEW FAMILY. 

Dea. Joseph Bartholomew, a soldier of the Revolution, 
was a native of Connecticut. Emigrated to Vienna, Ohio, 
in the beginning- of the century. liesided several years in 
Tallmadge. Came to Wadsworth in 182G. Owned and 
lived upon the farm where the depot, machine shops, and 
p!aning-mill now stand. He was a respected member of 
tiie Congregational denomination. He died at Middle- 
bury, Ohio, in 1856, at nearly 100 years of age. 

Joseph Bartholomew, jr., eldest son, by trade a cooper, 
lived on this side of the ravine north of the depot. He 
moved to Vienna in 1829. 

Hannah, eldest daughter, was the first Avife of Reuben 
F. Warner. Chloe, youngest daughter, was the third wife 
of the same. 

Osse Bartholomew, youngest son, born in Vienna in 
1809, was long a resident of AVadsworth, and a worthy 
member of the Disciple church. Married Belinda, daugh- 
ter of John Wade. Died from the eti'ecis of the kick of a 
horse, in AVilliams county, Oct. 16th, 1845. 

THE BATES FA:\riLY. 

This was a prominent family of Norton township for 
many years. The village of Bates' Corners takes its name 
from them. 

Hinsdale Bates was a )iative of Connecticut. Came to 
Norton in 1812. Had been a soldier of the Revolution. 
He died in 1842, aged 81. His sons were : Nathan, born 
in 1782; Married Mary Austin, in 1805; died in 1821. 



WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 167 

Lj'-man Bates, died in 1871, aged 81. Dennis Bates, killed 
at the raising of Johnson's mill, in 1882. Col. Talcott 
Bates, died in 1826. Curtis Bates, attorney at law, member 
of Ohio Senate; now lives at Des Moines, Iowa. 

Children of Nathan Bates : Amoret, born in 1808 ; mar- 
ried Pliilo P. Mills. Amanda, died at 16 years of age. 
Louisa, married Griffin Wilcox (father of Edw. Wilcox), 
who died in 1839 ; afterwards married Judge Allen Pai-dee. 
Hinsdale, born 1814; died at Charleston, Ohio. Clarissa, 
married Joel Manning. Mis. Bates afterwards man-ied 
Jotham Blakesley, and after his death, John Jacobs. She 
died in Wads worth in Sept., 1874, in her 89 th year. 

JOTHAM BLAKESI.EY. 

A native of North Haven, Ct. He lived several years 
in Tallmadge, working at the blacksmith trade. He mar- 
ried the Avidow Bates, and removed to Bates' Corners about 
1823. He died May 16th, 1835, aged 75. 

' r' f 

LEVI BLAKESLEE. 

Was born in Hartland, Ct. ; son of Eev. Matthew 
Blakeslee. Was adopted in infancy and brought up by 
Owen Brown, Esq., of Hudson. Married Abigal Patchen ; 
second wife, Mrs. Ostrander. He set up the first tannery 
in Wadsworth. His first vats were troughs hewed out of 
white wood logs, and his first bark-mill a huge wheel 
worked out of a granite boulder, attached to a revolving 
axle and turned by oxen. He was an enterprising, indus- 
trious, and intelligent man, a member of the Congrega- 
tional church. He died Nov. 26th, 18G4. Children: Ame- 
lia Eliza, born March 9th, 1820; married Donnely Hobart; 
resides in Cleveland. Anson E., and Owen B., both reside 
in Iowa. Levi, died young. 

LEWIS BATTISOSr. 

Came from Warren, C(. Married Nancy Derthick. Re- 



168 WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 

sided several 5^ear8 in Wadsworth, and with his sons, Geo , 
Julius, and Lucius removed to Michigan, where he die(\ 

THE BAUGHMAN FAMILY. 

Of that name there were many among" the first settlers 
of Wadsworth and Chippewa. Tliey were all Irom Le- 
high county, Pa., and of German origin. 

Adam Baughman came to Wadsworth in 1816. Died in 
1838, aged 70. His sons were Jacob and Henry. Daugh- 
ters, Mrs. David Smith. Mrs. Adam Smith, jr., and Mrs. 
J. Harter. 

Lawrence Baughman, brother of Adam, lived on tlie 
farm now owned by Dr. Symonds. Died in 1840, aged 67. 
Sons, Henry, Lawrence, Jacob, and Ezra. Daughters, 
Elizabeth, wife of Peter Waltz, jr. : Rachel, wife of Abra- 
ham Koplin ; Lydia, wife of John Loutzenheizer ; Polly, 
wite of Christian Koplin. 

John Peter Baughman lived in Chippewa, near the 
Waltz Church. Came about 1820. Died March 17th, 1844. 
Sons, Benjamin, Peter, and Aaron. Daughters, Lydia, 
wife of David Waltz, and Margaret, wife of W. Brouse. 

Paul Baughman, brother of J. P., came in 1826. Died 
in 1835, aged 79. Sons, Eli, Reuben, Levi, Israel, and Paul. 
Daughters, Lydia, wife of John Baughman ; Polly, wife of 
John Wall ; Margaret, wife of George Miller ; Mary, wife 
of Jonathan Wygant. 

John Baughman, nephew of Adam and Lawrence, came 
here in 1829. Married Lydia, daughter of Paul Baugh- 
man. Sons, Stephen, William, Seth, Israel, Joel, and John. 
Daughters, Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Miller; Hannah, 
wife of Talbert Simcox ; Elizabeth, wife of John S. 
Yockey. 

Jonas Baughman. brother of John, came in 1830. Sons, 
Jonas and David. Daughters, Margaret, wife of Thomas 
Wilhelm ; Mary, wife of Cyrus Loutzenheizer ; Elizabeth, 
wife of Peter Fry; Sabrina, wife of * * Williams. 



WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 169 

David Baughman, brother of John, came in 1830. Mar- 
ried Elizabeth Blocker. Son, Sherman B. Daughters, 
Catherine, wife of Aaron Betz ; Elizabeth, wife of Jonas 
Seijberling ; Saloma, wife of William Derr. 

THE BEACH FAMILIES. 

Abel Beach, son of John Beach, and fifth generation 
from Benjamin Beach, emigrant from England to Stam- 
ford, Ct., was born in Torrington, Ct., Jan. 3d, 1775. 
Married Roxy Taylor. Came to Wads worth in 1823. 
Owned the farm now the north farm of William Brouse. 
Built the first sawmill in company with his son George, 
and Joseph and Sherman Loomis. He was a man of great 
mirthfulness and wit. Died Nov. 7th, 1854. Mrs. Beach 
died Aug. 30th, 1846, aged 67. Children, Sylva, lost in the 
woods in 1824. George, born 1799. Married Mary Dela- 
bcr. Came to Wadsworth in 1822. Opened the farm now 
owned by Wm. Cunningham. Lives in Clinton, Iowa. 

Orlando Beach, brother of George, born Dec. 14th, 1802. 
Married Julia Pardee, who was killed by being thrown 
from a carriage, in 1838. Second wife, Susan, daughter of 
Judge Philo Welton. Mr. Beach has been an active busi- 
ness man for upwards of 50 years. 

Luman Beach was born in Litchfield county, Ct., in 1778 
Married Lydia Wright. Moved from Morgan, Ohio, to 
Wadsworth in 1834. Owned the farm on Holmes' Brook 
Hill where the Mennonite church now stands. Died Dec. 
29th, 1837. Mrs. Beach died Jan. 29th, 1849, aged 73. 

Dea. Wm. K. Beach, son of Luma^n, was born in Con- 
necticut, 1798. Married Henrietta Emory. Second wife, 
Elizabeth Sackett. Came to Wadsworth in March, 1830. 
Was an active member of the Congregational church, a 
man of great firmness and decision of character. Re- 
moved to Appleton, Wis. From there he led two compa- 
nies of emigrants into Kansas, in the time of the outrages 
committed in the interest of slavery, and settled at Fremont, 



170 TV ADS WORTH MEMORIAL. 

Kansas. On tlic death of Lis son^ Dr. S. E. Bead), he re- 
turned to Ohio, and died at the residence of liis brother, 
Jonathan M. Beach, iii Cliatliam, Nov. 21st, 1872. 

Dr. Erasmus M. Beach, second son of Lunian, died in 
Tallniado-e, 1822. 

P^dwin A. Beach, tliird son of Luman, born in Moruan, 
O., 1813. Married Didemia Chapman. Came to Wads- 
wcrtli in 1834. Was a worthy member of the Co ngr( Ra- 
tional chnrcli. Was killed by a ialling" tree, Aug-. 8th, 184J. 

Dea. Jonathan M. Beach, fourth son of Luman, boin in 
Morgan, 1827. Married Mrs. Angelina Brook. Second 
wife. Miss Carrie Clai)p. Resides in Chatham, O. 

Daughters of Luman Beach : Erances, boi-n 1797; mar- 
ried Samuel Knowlton. Second husband, Taylor Peck. 
Third, Daniel Bench. Died Eeb. 23d, 1875. Charlotte M., 
wife of Mei-rills Willey. Cornelia L., wife ot John 
Chase. Caroline E., born 1818 ; married Dr. C. N. Lyman. 
Malvina A., wife of J. B. Campbell. 

Dr. Samuel E. Beach, son of Wm. K. Beach, born in 
1822. Studied with Dr. G. K. Pardee, and practiced two 
years in Sharon. Married Jane, daughter ot John Mc- 
Gregor. Removed to Applelon, Wisconsin, 1838. Was a 
man of superior ability, and attaiuec^, a high standing as a 
physicrian and surgeon. He removed with his father to 
Fremont, Kansas, in 185G. lie was appoinied a surgeon in 
the army in the war of the Rebellion, and died at Louis- 
ville, Ky., of tyi)hoia fever. 

Erasmus M. Beach, second son of Wm. K., was a stu- 
dent of medicine. Died at Appleton, Wis., aged 26. 

Dr. Isaac B. Beech, a native of Maine, practiced medi- 
cine sevei-al years in Sharon. Died in Cleveland Dec. 10th, 
18(0, aged about CO. 

Sargent W. Beech, brother of I. B., born in Maine, 1813. 
Still resides in Sharon. 

Julius Beech, a native of Goshen, Ct., came to Norton 
Ceuterj and lived there several years. Died in Wisconsin. 



WADSVVORTH MEMOUIAL. 171 

THE BELL FAMILY. 

Defi. James Bell, a native of Connecticut, came to Guil- 
ford and settled just east of the site of Seville in 1821. 
Was oue of the original members of the Presbyterian, and 
afterwards of the Congregational church. He was highly 
respected as a worthy citizen and a good man. He died 
at 95 years of age. 

Col. Wm. II. Bell, eldest son of Jarncs, came to Guilfoi-d 
141 1819. Married a daughter of Samuel Owen. Was Jus- 
tice ot the Peace, Colonel of Militia, and a leading man in 
tiie county. Died July 13th, 1829. 

John Bell, second son of James, tanght the first winter 
school in Guilford. Lives in Wisonsin. 

Nathaniel Bell, third son, was County Surveyor of Me- 
dina county. Married Sarah, daughter of Judge Philo 
Welton. Died in Wisconsin. 

Dea. James A. Bell, fourth son, married Mary Ann 
Spear. Was Representative in the Ohio Legislature, and 
held positions of trust in the county. Lives in lowri. 

Jacob Bell, fifth son, was educated at Western Kescrve 
College. Followed the business of wagon making in Se- 
ville. Was an influential man. Resides at Menasha, Wis. 

Daughters of Dea. James Bell : Margaret, married Jesse 
Rhodes. Resides at Menasha, Wis. Nancy, married Ca[)t. 
Austin Badg(U-. Martha, married Kilbourn Owen. Lives 
at Spring Prairie, VV^is. Mary Ann, married Dr. Jesse L. 
Mills. Resides at Spring Prairie, Wis. 

THE BENTLY FAMILY. 

Edward B. Bently, born in Johnstown, N. Y., in 1795. 
Married Clerimond Brockway. Came to Wacis worth in 
1835. Settled in Sharon in 183(). Died April 5th, 1871:. 
Mrs. Bently died April 22d, 1871, aged 7-1. 

Chihlren of Edward B. Bently : Barber B., born 1817. 
Married Susan Ellis. Resides in AIgon(iuin, HI. Adaline, 
born 1822. Married Joseph Brown. Maria, born 1S2J:. 



172 WAOsWoHTtt MEMORIAL. 

Married Samuel D. Crane. Horace, born 1828. Hesicles 
in California. Lucy A., born Apr. 1st, 1830. Married 
George A. Brown. Jewitt F, G., born 1838. Lives in Mis- 
souri. Frances E., married C. J. Rudesill. 

THE BENNETT FAMILY. 

Four brothers of that name came from Vermont. Tim- 
othy S. Bennett came with Leavitt Weeks in 1818. Lived 
in the east part of Wadsworth. Married Rachel, daugh- 
ter of Holland Brown. lie still lives, past 80 years of age, 
in Medina township. 

Abel Bennett lived many years in Norton. Now lives 
in Royalton. 

Stanton Bennett, died in Wadsworth, 1874, aged C8. 

Elam Bennett, fell dead while at work in the hayfield, in 
1832. 

Joseph A. Bennett, a native of New Jersey, a tailor, 
lived several years in Wadsworth and in Sharon. 

THE BLOCKER FAMILY. 

Samuel Blocker, a native of Pennsylvania, came to 
Wadsworth in 1815, and settled on the farm east of the 
village, now owned by Seth Baughman. He was the lirst 
tailor of Wadsworth, and a quiet, temperate, and indus- 
trious citizen. Died April 2d, 1841, aged 76. 

David Blocker, eldest son of Samuel, came with his 
father. Of his famous hunting exploits, the readers of 
this work have been informed. He was a strictly honest, 
industrious citizen. He was unmarried. Died June 12th, 
1836, aged 38. 

Eli Blocker, second son of Samuel, a respected citizen, 
died at Norton Center, Feb. 18th, 1845, aged 38. 

Sherman Blocker, third son, was born in Wadsworth, 
Dec. 15th, 1819. Attorney at law. Was for several years 
Justice of the Peace, and Post Master at Wadsworth. He 
Married Sarah E. Adams. Resides in Akron. 



WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 173 

Lydia, eldest daughter, married Abraham J'Vanks. Re- 
sides ill Doylestown. Amanda, born 1812. Married 
NichoLas Long-, jr. Died in Michigan. Elizabeth, born 
June, 1814. Married David Baughman. Lives in Wads- 
wortli. 

THE BETTZ FAMILY. 

John Bettz was one of the earliest settlers of Chippewa 
township. He was an intelligent and worthy citizen, a 
member of the M. E. church. Died in Norton about 1856, 
aged 74. Abraham Bettz, his son, was for many years a 
resident of Wadsworth, on the farm now the residence of 
Daniel Bolich. He now resides in Norton. John Bettz, 
jr., a joiner, died in Norton, Oct., 1854, aged 62. 

THE BROWNS. 

In the early history of Wadsworth and the adjoining 
townships, there were probably more of this than of any 
other name. They were of not less than seven distinct 
family connections. 

Hon. Frederick Brown. In the early history of Medina 
county, no man was more widely known or exerted a 
more decided influence upon the new settlement than 
Judge Brown. He was a genuine representative of Puri- 
tan principles and Puritan blood. He was a descendant, 
of the tifth generation, from Peter Brown, one of the pil- 
grim band who came in the May Flower to Plymouth, in 
1620, and of Nalhaii Gilbert, Joseph Loomis, Pegat Egg- 
lestone, and John Drake, early settlers of Windsor, Ct., 
and Dea. Samuel Chapin and Nathaniel Bliss, of Spring- 
field, Mass., all well known in early history as the ances- 
tors of the numerous families in New England bearing 
those names. His father, Capt. John Brown, commanded 
a company of volunteer minute men in the Revolution, 
raised in Canton, Ct., who joined the army at New York, 
where he died Sept. 3d, 1776, leaving a widow and eleven 



\^4: WADSWORTH memorial 

children, Frederick, the second son, being then 7 years old. 
He was born in Canton, Ct., Aug. 14th, 17G9. He was ed- 
ucated in the common schools of his native town, and by 
means of having access to a circuLating library, early 
formed a habit of reading, and became a man of extensive 
information. He represented the town of Colbrook in 
the State Legislature during the exciting times of the war 
of 1812. lie emigrated to Wadsworth in 181G. Assisted 
ill the first organization of the town. Was one of the tirst 
Trustees, and second Post Master. On the organization of 
the county he was chosen Senior Associate Judge, which 
office he held from 1818 to 1832, 14 years. During most of 
this term of office, the Presiding Judge, having a large 
circuit, usually arrived late in the session, to try the chsin- 
cery cases and such others as required his presence, so that 
during those years, in most of the cases, Judge Jrown pre- 
sided, and was regarded as a man of clear judgment. In 
his religious views he was a Congregationalist, and was 
the first to move toward the establishment of a church of 
that order. Of his ellbrts in that direction we have spo- 
ken in the memorial sermon. He was very firm and de- 
cided in his religious views, yet tolerant of others. On 
all subjects relating to religion, morals, politics, and educa- 
tional and social advancement, he was outspoken and fore- 
most in action. None doubted where to find him. Yet he 
was not intrusive nor bitter. His know)i views sometimes 
created enemies who could detract him in his absence, yet 
feared to meet him. One individual in particular, whose 
name need not be mentioned as he has long since died, an 
intemperate man who disliked him on account of his reli- 
gious, moral, and political principles, with the recklessness 
of truth for which he was noted, lor many years circula- 
ted stories representing him in the light ol a narrow, illib- 
eral bigot, some of wiiich are still current, but not believed 
by those who knew him best. The writer, though his son, 
never heard him speak disparagingly of a neighbor, or of 



WADSWORTII MEMORIAL. 



175 



any other churcli than his own, nor would he permit any 
such conversation in his liousc. Of even the enemy re- 
ferred to, he always spoke with respect. In 1842, feeling- 
the infirmities of age, he removed to Circlcville to reside 
with his son, Dr. Marcus Brown, where he died March 
14th, 1848. He was twice married. His first wife was 
Catharine Case. Second, Chloe Pettibone. Children : 

Frederick Anson, eldest son, attorney at law, never lived 
in Wadsworth. Born Aug. 9th, 1793. Died Aug. 4th, 
1863. 

Dr. Marcus Brown, born in Canton, Ct., July 5th, 1797. 
Resided two years in Wadsworth. Practiced medicine in 
Pickway county, O., many years, and still resides in Cir- 
clcville. He has stood high among the physicians of Ohio, 
and has filled many positions of trust. None of his fami- 
ly are living. 

Catharine, born in Colbrook, Ct., 1799. Married Timo- 
thy Hudson. Resides at Ligoneer, Ind. 

Chloe Volucia, born in Colbrook, May 6th, 1810. Was 
from youth engaged in teaching. At her death, princi})al 
of an academy for young ladies. She died at Walcotville, 
Ind., Sept. 14th, 1840. 

Dr. John Brown, born at Colbrook, Nov. 12th, 1812. 
Studied medicine with Dr. G. K. Pardee. Married Emily 
C, daughter of Capt. George Lyman. Second wife, Me- 
lissa, daughter of Edson Phelps. Removed to Indiana, 
where he attained a high reputation as a physician, and a 
Christian gentleman. He died at Haw Patch, Ind., Jan. 
24th, 1842. His aged mother died in the same house, ten 
days afterward. 

Rev. Edwai'd Brown, born in Colbrook, Nov. 1st, 1814. 
His professional history is given in that of the clergymen 
of Wadsworth. Married Eliza Jane Johnson, of Palmyra, 
N. Y. Second wife, Laura Jane Goodale, of Amherst, Mass- 
Children : Florence Amelia, born June 3d, 1845. Died 
Aug. 5th, 1866. Marian Eliza, born Feb. 14th, 1847. 



176 WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 

Died Nov. 28th, 1804. Ellen, died in infancy. Marcus Au- 
relius, born Oct. 9tli, 1853, at Wantoma, Wis. Printer. 

Lanra, third daughter of Frederick Browu, born in 
Wadsworth, March ll(h, 1820. Graduated at Granville 
Female Seminary, in 1810. Married Dr. John A.Butler, 
Lagranj^c, Ind. Second husband, Francis J. Smith. Re- 
sides in Pontiac. Mich. 

Sarah M., fourth daughter of F. Brown, born in Wads- 
worth, July 2d, 1823. Married Chester C. H amnion, La- 
grange, Ind. She now resides at Yankton, Dakota. 

Holland Brown, a native of Massachusetts, came to 
Wadsworth about 1824. Lived on the northeast corner 
farm, now the town-li)ie coal-mine. He was a worthy 
citizen, a member of the Disciple church. Died Apr. 22d, '44 
aged 76. Children: Lyman, killed at Akron by accident, 
Dec. 1825, aged 27. Eaclicl, married T. S. Bennett. Al- 
mon, born, 1801. Resided several years in Wadsworth, 
Sharon, and Norton. He is a carpenter by occupation. 
Has been for several years a resident of Akron (Middle- 
bury Ward). Has held several county olfices. Is now 
Justice of tlie Peace. 

Erastus Brown was also for many years a resident of 
Wadsvvortli, where he followed tlie business of house join- 
er, and wagon maker. Resides in Weymouth. 

Ahi Brown was a respected citizen of Wadsworth, a car- 
penter. Member of the Disciple church. Married Emily, 
Daughter of Jotham Blakesley. Died Mar. 9th, 1837. 

Rev. Leonard Brown, born 1811. Married Ann L., 
daughter of Phineas Butler. Is a minister of the Disciple 
church. Resides in Wellington, O. 

Rev. Holland Brown, born 1813. Is a minister of the 
Disciple church. R(!sides in Brooklyn, O. 

Sumner Brown, brother of Holland, resided several 
years at Western Star, and in Sharon. Of his history no 
particulars arc obtained. His son, Heman Brown, was a 



WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 177 

stone-cutter, once well known in Wadsworth. His other 
sons were Charles and Sumner. A daughter married San- 
ford D. Clark, a merchant of Western Star. None of that 
family are living. 

Demas, Josiah, and Benjamin Brown, nephews of Hol- 
land and Sumner, resided several years east of Stony 
Ridge. Of their history little can be obtained. Josiah, 
the only survivor, now lives in Oberlin. 

John Brown, a native of Pennsylvania, was one of the 
early settlers of W^adsworth. He was a blacksmith. Mar- 
ried Jerusha Simcox. Died 1855, aged 55. 

Abraham Brown, a native of Vermont, and his son, 
John Brown, a single man, lived many years in Norton 
township. Mrs. Benjamin Tyler, of Wadsworth, and Mrs. 
William Walcott, of Westfield, were his daughters. 

John Brown, of Chippewa, built a mill on Silver Creek 
Time of death and age unknown. He was a worthy mem- 
ber of the Presbyterian church. 

Capt. Ezekiel Brown was of the seventh generation 
from Rev. Chad Brown, colleague and successor of Roger 
Williams at Providence, Rhode Island, and son of Eseck 
Brown. Was born in Gloucester, R. I., June, 1801. Mar« 
ried Mary Tucker. Emigrated to Sharon in 1838. A 
man of education, and influence in societj^ and highly re- 
spected. Died March 11th, 1875. Children : Ann Eliza, 
born 1824. Married Edwin Farr. George A., born Apr. 
17th, 1827. Married Lucy A. Bently. Justice of the 
Peace, and present Mayor of Wadsworth. Abbie, married 
Kedor L. Chandler. Died in 1869. aged 39. 



*&' 



PHINEAS BUTLER, 

Born in Saybrook, Ct., 1791. Married Sarah Pardee. Emi- 
grated to Wadsworth from Marcellus, N. Y., in 1818. He 
was a leading member of the Disciple church. Died in 
1846. Mrs. Butler died 1844. Children : Ann L., married 
Rev. Leonard Brown. Resides in Wellington. Rev. Par 



178 WADSWORTII MP:M()K1AL. 

dee Butler, born in Mareellus, N. Y., 1816. FAlucated at 
Wadsworth Academy. Is a minister of the Disciple 
ol in roll. lie was one of the early emigrants to Kansas 
and a zealous supporter of the Free State cause, in conse- 
quence of which he was at one time taken by a mob of 
Border Eutiians, at Atchison, and placed on a rait and 
sent down the Missouri River without paddle or oar. Af- 
ter floating several miles he was picked up by a passing 
«teamer» He still lives in Kansas. George W. Butler, 
born Mar. 22d, 1820. Married Hannah Hull. Lived several 
years in Medina, and died in 1845. Sylvanus, born 1822. 
Died 1844. Sarah Maria, born Feb. 18th, 1825. Mari'ied 
Nathaniel B. Eastman, Resides in Seville. 

THE BRIGGS'S. 

Daniel Briggs, Esq., son of Abiel Briggs, born in Berk- 
ley, Mass., 1780. Came to Sharon in 1834. Died 1860, 
agec! 80. Children: Euieline, married Hiram Hayden. 
Alice, married Robert Hilliard. Daniel, died in Akron- 
Dr. Henrv, lives in Georgia. 

Thomas Briggs, brother of Daniel, was born in Berkley. 
Mass., Jan. 27th, 1790. Moved to Sharon in 1834. Died 
'Aug. 2d, 1863. Children : Louisa, married G. W. Crane. 
Alinda, married Barnabas Crane, jr. Maria, married Mr- 
Haskell. Lives in Marysville, Cal. Daniel, born 1818. 
Married Rhoda Pratt. Abiel, born Sept. 25th, 1820. Mar- 
ried Harriet C. Dinsmore. Silas, lives in Sharon. George, 
Benjamin, Warren, John G., and Joseph, all live in Cali- 
fornia. •• 

Freeman Briggs, born in Berklev, 1792. Died June 13th, 
1874. 

DANIEL BOLICH, 

Came to Wadsworth in 1830, from Pennsvlvania. Died 
Oct. 11th, 1862, aged 72. 

Joseph Bolich,^ born Mar. 18th. 1817. Married Nancy 
Simcox. Still lives in Wadsworth. Sous : Dauiel, Har- 
rison, Harvey, and Talbert. 



WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. • 179 

BROUSE FAMILY. 

Michael Broiise ami his sou Michael were among' tlio 
first settlers of Chippewa. He died Xov. 6th, 1854, aged 
102. Michael, jr., died May 13th, 1859, aged 48. Sbns': 
John, Michael, William, Curtis, Jacob, and Frederick. 

THE CHATFIELDS. 

William Ghatfield, Esq., came from Marcellus, J^. Y., to 
Sharon, about 1834. Was a prominent citizen for several 
years. Died Feb. 7th, 1842, aged 67. Children : (GruV C, 
Milton, Lewis C, Mina, and William. '' ' 

THE CHANDLERS. .. , 

Edward C. Chandler and his brother, Matthew Allen; 
came from Windsor, Ct., about 1838, to Sharon. Edward 
married Julia Hay den. Died Aug. 7th, 1861, Matthew 
xi. still resides in Sharon. Silas P. Chandler, born iu 
Reading, Vt., Oct. 1st, 1788. Died Oct. 4th, 1863. He was 
in the war of 1812. Was an active business man;= Game- 
to Norton in 1830, and settled in Sharon in 1831. Child-* 
ren : Silas P., born Dec. 16th, 1819. Married Clarissa 
Blanchard. Kedor L., born 1820. Resides in Kansas/ 
Mary, died in Illinois. Almiia, married Henry PeUon.- 
Henry Z., born Mar. 31st, 1827. Married Marcia Goodwin. 
Philander, born 1829. Married Susan Cox. Xoretta, mar- 
ried Leonard Wyman. Nancy, married J. N. Lee. , The 
Chandler Brothers are enterprising business men, and 
have done much for the prosperity of the place. 

CLARK FAMILIES. 

There were several ftimilies of that name connected with 
the pioneer history. - 

Cephas Clark, born in Massachusetts, July 7th, 1779: 
(His father came frcm England before the Revolution) • 
He moved to Ohio in 1816, and settled a little south of Se- 
ville, in the north part of Milton. 



IQQ wadsWorth memorial. 

Aaron Clark, fifth son of Cephas, born Aug. 20th, 1811. 
Married Susan, daughter of Valentine Kigleman, and lo- 
cated in Guilford in 1835, where were born John A., David, 
Cephas, and Sarah Clark. Mr. Clark died in 1848, and the 
two youngest children have since died. Mji-. Clark was a 
conscientious, honest, and upright man, and a devout mem- 
ber of the Baptist church, the meetings of which he never 
failed to attend. Being very industrious he did much to 
subdue the wilderness and add to the comforts of life, and 
by his strict integrity and generous impulses, left a very 
favomble impress upon the community. 

John A. Clark was born on the homestead farm, in Guil- 
ford township, Jan. 7th, 1837. Was educated at Seville 
Academy, and engaged in teaching and farming pursuits 
till 1866, when he removed to Wadsworth and engaged in 
the printing business, mentioned elsewhere, and in 1869 
and 70 was Superintendent of the Union Schools. Has 
held the office of Mayor of the village, and other positions 
of public trust. Has built up a large and successful busi- 
ness by his energy, industry, and systematic habits, and by 
hia publications is exerting a wide influence on the side of 
morality and public good. He married Emily U., daugh- 
ter of Thomas Colburn, of Guilford. 

Clement Clark, a soldier of the Revolution, came about 
1820, with his brother-in-law, Ebenezer Andrus, from 
Vermont, and settled in the southwest part of Norton 
township. He was a member of the Congregational 
church, and lived to an advanced age. His son, Levi 
Clark, married the widow of Daniel Ware. He was a 
prominent member of tlie Methodist church. He lived 
many years in Norton. 

Dr. Miles Clark and his brothers, Judge Lyman Clark 
and Rev. Homer Clark, came to New Portage about 1817. 
Dr. and Judge Clark died in 1827. But little can be ob- 
tained of their early history. Carlos Clark, son of Dr. 
Miles Clark, built the mill on Wolf Greek still known as 



wadsworth memorlvl. 181 

Clark's mill. Rev. Homer Clark became a distinguished 
Methodist preacher. He still lives at Homerville, O. 

Sanford D. Clark was for several years a merchant of 
Western Star ; firm of Griswold & Clark. Married Char- 
lotte, daughter of Sumner Brown. Removed West. 

Richard Clark, a native of Connecticut, came to Wads- 
worth from Pittsburg in 1821. Married Hannah, daughter 
of Rev. Obadiah Newcomb. Died Mar. 17th, 1864, aged 
69. He made pewter buttons, spoons and ladles, in the 
days when such things were in demand. He also taught 
singing for many years when the fugue tunes were in 
vogue. He was one of the earlier members of the Disci- 
ple church. Victory Clark, brother of Richard, lived sev- 
eral years in Wadsworth. Moved to Marion county 
about 1835. Died at Lafayette, O. 

CRANE FAMILIES. 

Among the early settlers of Sharon were the families of 
Barnabas and William Crane, from Berkley, Mass. 

Barnabas Crane was for many years a sea captain, a man 
of education, energy, and public spirit. He did much for 
the cause of education in the early days of the township. 
Was one of the original founders of Sharon Academy. 
Died May 3d, 1860, aged 85. Children : George W., lives 
in Sharo)i. Joseph, drowned in Lake Skeneateles, N. Y. 
in 1857. His wite also shared the same fate. Her body 
was recovered, and buried in Sharon. William A., lives 
in Minn. Henry C, died in Cal. Barnabas, jr., died in 
Sharon, Nov., 1856. 

William Crane came to Sharon in 1833. Died May 4th, 
1864, aged 83. Children: Samuel D., lives in Sharon. 
Alfred, ditto. Elizabeth, married Cicero Phelps. Lives 
in Bureau county, 111. 

CURTIS FAMILIES. 

Capt. Cyrus Curtis was born at Norfolk, Ct., 1767. He 
married Editha Mills. Resided at New Haven, Yt., and 



182 * Wadsworth memorial. 

Marcellns, N. Y. Came to Wads worth, 1829. Was a man 
of strong- mind and pure character, highly esteemed by 
his acquaintances. Died Dec. 6th, 1839. 

Col. Norman Curtis, eldest son of Cyrus Curtis, born in 
Norfolk, Ct., July 24th, 1792. Married Elizabeth Lampson. 
Came to Wadsworth froui Marcellus, N. Y., Feb., 1821. 
Wiis a man of much intluence, and held many important 
otRces in the township, where he resided 12 years. He re- 
moved to Sharon in 1833, where he resided 20 years. His 
present residence is in Kockford, 111. Mrs. Curtis died 
Apr. 28th, 1856, aged 53. Children : Kachel and Editha, 
reside in Kockford, 111. Helen, married Enoch Jackson. 
Died in 111., 1861. Loyal Curtis was Steward of the Ohio 
Insane Asylum. Died Nov. 12tb, 1853, aged 27. George 
R., born in Sharon, 1839. Was in the drug business sever- 
al years in Medina, and in Janesville, Wis. Died at Rock- 
ford, 111., 1873. 

Cyrus Curtis, jr., born in Norfolk, Ct., Dec. 24th, 1794. 
Came from Marcellus, N. Y., to Wadsworth Feb., 1828. 
Has been a man of iutluence in the town for 47 j^ears. 
Was Justice of the Peace, Township Trustee, and School 
Director for a number of terms. Was a consistent mem- 
ber of the Methodist church, a man of strict integrity, re- 
spected by air the community. Died Mar. 8th, 1875. 
Children : Judge Albert L., born Marcellus N. Y., Mar. 
20th, 1818. Married Roxy Hill. Resides in Ashland. H. 
Holland, born 1820. Married Miss Brewster. Resides in 
Iowa. William Pitt, born in Marcellus, N. Y., Oct. 26th, 
1822. Married Adelia Lyman. Is a druggist. Resides 
in WadsAvorth. Charles B., born in ¥/adsworth Jan 16th, 
1824. Married Maria Turner. Died 1867. Grace Orra, 
born 1832. Married Rev. R. Hager. Died 1856. Grace 
Melissa, born 1832. Married Benjamin Binder, who was 
killed in the war. Second husband, Michael Sands. Re- 
sides in Wis. Lampson C, born 1837. Married Caroline 
Nye. Resiiles near Pittsburg, Pa. 



WADS WORT 1 1 MF:M()iaAL. 183 

Capt. Jotham Curtis, an officer in the Revolution, livod 
several vears on the line of Wads worth and Guilford. 
Moved with his sons, Thomas J., Jotham, and Jonathan, 
to Mich., where he died, upwards of. 90. vears old. 

John and William Curtis, young men, came about 1818 
witli their brother-in-law, Abiah Lindley, to Wadsworth. 
John died 1820, and was the lirst adult buried in Wads- 
Avorth cemetery. William married Elizabeth McCabe, and 
lived several years in Guilford. Died 1826. 

COLBURX FAMILY. 

Sewell Colburn, native of Connecticut, lived several 
years on the west line of Wadsworth. Had lost an arm. 
Time of death and age not known. Children : Sewell, 
resided several years in Guilford; now at Gallon. Thom- 
as Colburn, born at Bennington, Vt. Married Lydia Dean. 
He has been an industrious and energetic man. Came to 
Wadsworth about 1824. Paid for his farm by working by 
the year. Has accumul|ited a competence, and resides in 
Guilford. Children: Emily U., born Aug. 25th, 1837. 
Married John A. Clark. Minerva, married Van B. Mar- 
tin. Fanny, married Clark Crawford. Marion J., born 
1845. James M., born 1847. Married Emma Gove. Is a 
printer. Resides at Wadsworth. Medwin, born 1854. 
Merit, born 1856. 

CAMPBELL FAMILIES. 

Joshua Campbell, born in Chateaugay, K. Y. Resided 
many years in Vermont. Came to Wadsworth in 1832. 
Died in Oberlin, 1849, aged 85. Children : Miranda, mar- 
ried Mr. Foster. Second husband, Josiah Jaquith. Jona- 
than S., born Chateaugay, 1800. Married Ozima Samson. 
Came to Wadsworth 1831. Removed to Oberlin. Killed 
by a falling tree in Iowa, 1863. Ralph, born 1802. A man 
of education, for many years a teacher. Died at Black 
River, 1854. James B., born 1804. Married Liicina Sum- 



184 WADSWORTII MEMORIAL. 

son. Second wife, Malvina Beach. Came to Wadsworlh 
1833. Kemoved to Oberlin. Eesided several years in Mt. 
Veruon. Now lives in Wadsworth. Children : Livonia, 
married L. Chadwick. Clara, married J. B. Pratt. C)^- 
rene, married C. N. Leash. Louisa, married J. S. Jones- 
J. W., born Oct. 6th, 1850. Married Eva Ogden. Lives 
in Wadsworth. Mary, married E. N. Funk. Sarah, mar- 
ried Robert Welch. 

Dr. Ebenezer Campbell, born in Vermont. Came to 
Wadsworth 1832. Married Miss Birge, of Sharon. Stud- 
ied with Dr. G. K. Pardee. Died in Indiana, 1838. 

DEAN FAMILIES. 

Daniel Dean, mentioned in this history as one of the 
first settlers, son of Benjamin Dean, was born in Cornwall, 
Ct., Mar. 31st, 1765. Moved to Franklin, Vt. Married 
Mary Field. Came to Wadsworth Mar. 17th, 1814. Erect- 
ted the first dwelling-. He was a man of strong mind, 
somewhat eccentric, of firm principles. Was a member of 
the Baptist church, and in his later years a licensed preach- 
er of that denomination. Died Mar. 6th, 1836. 

Benjamin Dean, eldest son of Daniel Dean, was born in 
Bristol, Vt., Aug. 1st, 1797. Came to A¥adsworth Mar. 1st, 
1814, with O. Durham, through the woods, and together 
they cut the first tree. For 50 years his name was identi- 
fied with the history of the township, always on the side 
of sound morality, education, and public improvement. 
He had the respect and confidence of the whole communi- 
ty. His early education was limited, but his mind was 
strong and active, and by reading and observation he ac- 
quired more than an ordinary store of knowledge, and 
for some j^ears was a successful teacher. He married 
Julia Phelps. Second wife, Harriet Fairchild, of Sharon. 
He was a member of the Baptist church till it disbanded, 
when he became a constant attendant at the Congregation- 
al, and was for some years Superintendent of the Sabbath 



WADS WORTH MEMORIAL. 18'f 

ill the war of 1812J Was in the memorable battle of Lake 
Erie, with ('ommodore Perry, Sept. lOtli, 1813, and won 
special notice as a surgeon for the etRcient aid rendered to 
the wounded and dying- marines during and after the battle. 
In 1827 he removed to Seville, where for several years he 
kept a hotel for travelers on the turnpike, then the great 
thoroughfare of travel in Northern Ohio, still continuing 
his i)rofessional business. As a physician he had a high re- 
gard to pi-ofessional honor, and moral principle. lie died 
Aug. loth, 181')!. His wife (Emily Burnham) still survives 
him, aged 75. Children : Henry, a photographer, resides 
in Alich. Nathaniel 13., born 1818. Married Sarah M. But- 
ler. Besides in Seville. Victor, born 1820. Besides in 
Westfield. Joseph C, died when a young man. 

EVERHARD FAMILIES. 

Jacob Everhard, born in Northampton, Pa., 1760. He 
vvas not in the Bevclution, but was for some time a soldier 
in the Indian war that continued after its close. He came 
to Wadsworth in 1818, and took up his residence on the 
lai-m southwest of the corners at the coal-banks. He was 
a worthy member of the Lutheran church, as were all his 
family. Died Nov., 1833. Children ; Christian, born in 
Westmoreland county, Pa., 1783. Married Magdalena, 
daughter of Adam Smith. Came to Wadsworth in 1815. 
John, born 1785. Married Nancy Harter. Came to Wads- 
worth 18L5. Christina, married Christopher Basor. Mary, 
man-led William Basor. Jacob, born 1793. Married Eliz- 
abeth Smith. Second wite, Mary Harter. Lived just 
over the line of Chippewa. Was an influential citizen, and 
did much for the cause of education. Susan, married 
John Parshall. Second husband, Jesse Bose. Elizabeth, 
unmarried, died 1873, aged 75. Jonathan, born Feb. 18th, 
1801. Came to Wadsworth 1818. Moved to Sharon in 1831, 
where he still resides, the only remaining one of the family.- 
Children of Christian Everkard: Adam, Emanuel, and 



Jesse reside in AVadsworth. Ezra, in Wisconsin. TIcnry. in 
California. 

Children of eJohn Evcrhard : Solomon, resides on 11, c 
old homestead. Mary, married Jonas Kreider. Cntheriiic. 
married David Koplin. iiarbara, mai-ricd Jncoh fiauoh- 
man. Snsan, married Frank lianghm.'m. Hannah, niar- 
i-ied Joel Tlartman. (Jhristina, married Wns. f.ee. l^ydia, 
married Ephraim Kremer. Margaret, married J^. Shook. 
Anna, married J. Uensimer. 

Cliildren of Jacob Eveihard : L\dia, niai'ried Isaac. 
Waidman. Dr. Aaron, livos in Iiipon, Wis. Jieuben, re- 
sides in Wis. Sybilla, marriiMl l*eler Wall. Dr. Jacol), 
resides in Kasson, Minn. Elijah, died in Warsaw, Ind. 
Andiew, died in the army. Hannah, marricni Maltln^w 
T;i«4'gail. William, resides in Peoria, 111. Dr. Nathan is 
noticed nnder the head of ph}'sicians of Wadsworth. He 
married Ella Findley. 

HON. WILLIAM EVLES, 

I>orn iji Kent, Ct., Ang. KUh, ITSIl His failier was Josliua 
lOylcs, who died when William was (|nite yonng. Wnu 
nian-ied Polly, danghter of Ananias Derthick. She was 
born in Colchester, Ct., Se,)t. :>2d, 17S2. In 18Ei, he eanie 
West with his family, crossing the Alleglionj^ Mountains 
by the old P»raddock army road, down the Yougheganey, 
tlirongh Pittshnrg, to Palmyra, Trund)ull co., Ohio. Jn 
liassing over one of the mountains, where tin; road was 
very narrow, they met several Conistoga wagons. There 
was no way to pass except to take Mr. Eyles's' wagon and 
set it out on tlie baid<: by the side of the road. This the 
teamsters did, and then passed on, cruelly leaving him and 
his sick family to get it back as best they might. After 
many hardships they arrived at their destination in the 
fore part of Oct., having been on the road 40 days. Mr. 
EylQ3 lived in Palmyra about a year, when he mov^ed to 
Portage townshij), tlieu Portage, now Summit county, and 



WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 185 

School, some of his fjunily bcinu" mouibcrs. He removed 
to Town ill ISOl. wliere he l)ecaine ;iii active member of tlie 
Preshyfcriiii fhu.-ch. No iiicideiil of Ihe i)ioiieer meelini*' 
was more. plca^iuLV !o Ihi^ asscn bU^.d throiij>' than his iiilru- 
diK'lioii as (lie mail wlio cut the iirst tree, and the reading' 
oi'his iiiterestinii" narrative, lie returned, hiji;ldy ui-atificd 
with (he i'(^eci)lJon he received Irom his ohl friends. His 
health, hiim' ('nrer})k'd, continued to fail till Sabbath morn- 
inu, Oct. lith. 1871, when he dei)arted, in triumphant 
Christian hoi»e. Sons ol' P>enjamin Dean: Amos, born in 
Wadsworih. Lives in r>iairslo\vn, Iowa. County Supei"- 
intendiMit of Scho<jls. Stowell and Frederick, mentioned 
.n the sokliers' list, died in the armv. Corvdon. 

Daniel Dean, jr., was a promising young man. Died 
March, 18'i:), aged 24. 

Moses Dean v/as a resident of AVadsworth for many 
years. Ijnilt a wanon slioi) just west of the cemeterv. 
'I'he remains of Hie (him built tor running machin<'ry, in 
1828, are still s(M»n. He married Harriet llosford, of 
WestJieid. Died in Iowa,. 

Ebenezcr Dean, lives near Dixon, 111. Salmon Dean, 
lives in Iowa. AVilliam, died in Iowa. Polly, died in 
Wads worth, 1824. Kuth, marivied D. Gridley. Died in 
Wailsworth. 

Jos(;ph Dean. Urother of Daniel, lived several years in 
Wadsworth. Died in Sharon. 

Apollos Dean was one of the first settlers of the east 
part of (iuilford. Sons: James and Asahel. 

THE DUIJIIAMS. 

Oliver Durham was born 1780. Removed from Hincs- 
burg, Vt., to (.)hi(). about 1812, in company with his brotli- 
er Elisha, who died on the Avay at Mcadvillc, Pa. He 
eaine to Wadsworth Mar. Ist, 1814. He Avas a quiet, in- 
dustrious, honest man, one of the original members of the 
Methodist church. Married Lomira, daughter of Salmon 



186 WADSWOKTII jreMOKIAL. 

"Warner. Cliiklrcii : Kev. Aloiizu, first child born in 
Wadswortli, June, 1814. Is a minister of the Frce-Wil^ 
Baptist denomination, in Ind. Elvii-a, Phehe, Julia, and 
Elisha, are none of them living in (Jhio, and theii history 
is little known, 

Calvin Dorwin was a brother of O. Durham. (A i>art 
of tlic family held the name to have been Dorwin in Eug., 
and called themselves by that name). He was a nutn of ed- 
ucation and ability, and prominent in tlie pioneer history. 
lie was for many years a successful tea<;her. Moved to the 
western part of the State. 

ABEL DICKINSON. 

A native of Litchlield county, Ct, came to Wadsworth 
.about 1821. Married Julia Moody, lie was a man of 
good education and talent. AVas the iirst Post Master al 
Wadsworth, and at one period was County Surveyor. lie 
was noted for the practical jokes he was v.'onl to play olf 
upon his neighbors. He cleared up the fai-m and built the 
large stone house now the residence of Win. Phelps, lie 
died at Glenhope, Pa.. 1868, aged 75. 

EDWIN DOWD. 

Came from Meriden, Ct., in company with his brother, D. 
D. Dowd, Esq., and his cousin, Timothy Dowd, to Seville, 
and settled in VVadsworth in 181)1, whei'e he resided sever- 
al years, carrying on a boot and shoe shop. Was an active 
mendjer of the Congregational church. Moved to Oberlin 
in 1833, and died in 111. D. D. and T. Dowd are still resi- 
dents of Guilford. 

DR. NATHANIEL EASTMAN. 

Born at Fort Ann, N. Y., June 17th, 1702. He canie to 
Wadsworth in 1823, where he resided till 1827. He was nn 
able and skillful physician, and excelled in surgical prac- 
tice, lie was au assistant surgeon in the marine hospital 



WADS WORTH MEMORIAL. 191 

Brown University, Providence, Ti. I., 1821. Married Clara 
Walker, of Mcdway. Mass. Came to VVadsworth in 1830, 
and became the pastor ol" the Coiigregatioi.al ciiurch. lie 
was ureatly beloved of his fhuri-)i. and iiniversallv re- 
spccted. His ministry was very successful, the church be- 
ing increased during- his 5 years pastorate frcwn 11 to 70 
members. He died Oct. 21:tli, 1835. Mrs. F;i,y still lives at 
Columbus, O. 

Gilbert Otis Fay, son of Rev. G. Fay. Graduated at Yale 
College, 1857. Has been for many years Principal of the 
Deaf and Dumb Asylum at Columbus, O. 

IIENL'V FIJAXKS, 

Came to Chippewa in 1812, with his brothers, John and 
Jacob. He was a soldier in the Revolution, in the defense 
of the frontier, and was taken [))-isoner by the Indians and 
retained by them two years, lie witnessed the burning- of 
Col. Crawford. He also twice snatched a boy, who had 
been taken prisoner, from the tire, when the Indians were 
in the act of burning him. This was by anotlier tribe, in 
alliance with the Delawares who held him prisoner. He 
would have shared the same fate but for his escape, after 
the second rescue. He twdcc had to run the gauntlet, in 
\vhich he received injuries from which he never recovered. 
Died about 1830, aged 72. 

Children of Henry Franks: John, came previous to his 
ftither's arrivMl. Second iamily in Chippewa. He was a 
man ot good education and ability. Was the tirst Justice 
of the Peace in the townshi}), and held the office upwards 
of 20 years. Married Mary Kekler. Second wife, Frances 
Gowxn*. Michael Franks was a maker of brick. The 
bricks of most of the older brick houses of Wadsworth 
were n)ade by him. Removed to Ind., and died there. 
Henry, born iii Pa. in 1796. Resided many years in Chijv 
pewa. Removed to Spencer. Abraham, born 1798. Mar- 
ivied Lydia Blocker; of Wadsw' orth. Was a merchant in 



292 WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 

Doylesfowi). Died 18(17. Uriah, born 1800. Married 
Elizabeth Watt. Resides in Albion. Ind. 

Childi-eu of John Fninlvs, E,s(|. : Uiiah, lives in 111. Si- 
las, born Jmu. 28th, 1822. Married Mariuni lirouse. F^ives 
in Wadsworth. Solomon, born Dee. lU(h, 1823. Married 
Sarali Alban. Resides in VVadsworlli. Margaret, married 
Emanuel Slotler. Mar\-, married Rev. James Elliott. Sa- 
rah, married James Ma*;rne. Franees, married Eidiraim 
ilutl'man. Abii^al, Jiiarried Newlon Maj^rne. Pliebe, mar- 
ried James Jjowlby. lIcMiry M., killed in the war. 

Children of Abraham Franks: Orin G., Lyman, Riley, 
and Morj^an. Amanda, mai'ried Abraham Franks. Rhe.- 
be, married Josiah Jacoby. Lu('etta, married R. AVosson. 

PIJILO F]{E\CH, 

Born in Mass., 1795. Came from Northampton, O., to 
Wa(]sworlh about 1819. Settled on the farm sinee owned 
l)y AIe>:ander Turner. Died Oet. 25th, 1823. Mrs. Freneh 
(now widow Stearns) lives in l*>erea, O. 

Thomas J. Frcncli, eousin of Philo, eame about the same 
time. Owned part of the Turner farm. Married Dulcena 
Colburn. Now resides in Northampton. 

GRAHAM FAMILY. 

William Graham, a native of Ireland, was an early sot- 
tier of Chippewa, near Doylcstown. and one of the earliest 
niembei-s of the Coniireji:ational church of Wadsworth, 
and was active in sustainini'' religious meetinics. He died 
about 1830. Children: John, lived many years in Chip- 
])ewa. Died in Mich. Jan.es, lived many years in Chip- 
})ewa. Was an inliuential and respected citizen, a ruling 
elder in the Presbyterian church. Removed to Chicafro, 
where he still resides. William, also lived many years in 
Chippewa. Was killed by the runnino- awav of a team in 
Mich. Hannah, married William Smith. Eliza, married 
Green Sinith. Nancy, niirricd William Mcllhcny. 



bought a farm north of Summit Lake, iu wliat is now Up- 
per Akron. His house was whore the Summit House now 
stands. In Jan., 1820, he moved to Wadsworth, on the 
farm on tlie Akron road, now owned by his son William, 
and grandson, Wrn. N. P^yles. His cliildren who were boi'n 
in Connecticut, were Mary Ann, boi-n Mar. 19th, 1805. 
Biancy Eveline, born Mar. 30th, 1807. Wm. Madison, 
born Feb. 11th, 1812. Clarinda Elvira was born in Por- 
tage, July 12th, 1815. Betsy Maria, born in the same 
place, Apr. 19th, 1819. Ann Louisa was born in Wads- 
worth, Dec. 3d, 1821, and Viola Matilda, July 9th, 1824. 
Mrs. Eyles died Sept. 27th. 1849. In 1851 he married Mrs. 
Mary Pierce, and shoi'tly afterwards moved into Wads- 
worth village, occupying the house where his son William 
M. now liv.^s. He was residing here at the time of his 
death, Feb. 11th, 1870. His oldest daughter was mari-ied 
to Orin Loomis ; the second to Aaron Pardee; the third 
to Albert Hinsdale; the Tourth to Peuben N. Woods; the 
til'th to I). L. Harris; anil tiic sixth to James McGalliard. 
These all survived him, had large families, and are all now 
living except Mrs. Loomis and Mrs. Pardee. 

Mr. Evles was a remarkable man. .He inherited notliino- 
from his father but a good constitution and'strono- mind. 
He was a cooper by trade, which he followed in connec- 
tion with farming for many years, during which he accu- 
mulated considerable property. His early education was 
quite limited, but he made up for this deticiency by an un- 
usual share of natural ability and good sense. He was 
much respected by his neighbors and fellow-citizens. Tliis 
was manifested by their keeping him in public oflfice, with- 
out his seeking. He was Justice of the Peace in Portaae, 
and afterwards in Wadsworth, in all more than 20 yeai-s. 
He was County Commissioner one oi- two terms, was twice 
elected to the Legislature, and served one term as Associ- 
ate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, fie was oris"- 
inally a JefTcrsonian Democrat, but voted for John Quincy 



190 WADSWORTlJt MlilMOKfAL. 

Adams in 1824, and in '28. Was aftorward a YanBureri 
man, and linally a liO])ubl]'can of tlic straightest sect; and 
lie always asserted and believed rliat he had never chang<'d 
his politics in the least. In reliuion he w^as by edncation 
a Congregationalist, bnt while living in Portage township 
he and his wife united with the nai)lists. In 1824 Mr. 
Eylcs and his wife assisted in foi'ining the tirst Disciple 
church in Wadsworth, and each conlinned earnest and con- 
sistent members of that church during life. No citizen of 
Medina county cvei left a better example to those who 
should come after Idm than did Jndge Kyles. 

SIMON ELLIOTT, 

Was born in Ireland 1790. Came at 4 years of age to Steu- 
benville, O. Married Elinor Elliott, also troin Ireland, 
lie settled in Chippewa in 1823, and opened tlie I'arni now 
the residence of his son, John Elliott. He was a man of 
much force of character, a ruling elder in the Presbyterian 
church. Died in 1842. Mrs. E. died in 1855. ChildrcMi : 
Margaret, married Geo. Bowersock. Lives in Spencer, (). 
Charity, married George Miller. Lives in Ashland, Ohio. 
Thomas, died at Ashland 1867. John, born at Steuben- 
ville, O., Feb. 8th,'lS23. Married Catharine Ann Wilkins. 
Lives on the original homestead. Aima, married John 
Robb. Lives at Geneseo, 111. William, died at 20 years of 
age. Jane, lives at Ashland. Simon, !.}erved three years 
in the war, re-enlisted, and died of wounds received attlie 
battle of Nashville, aged 28. Was buried at Doylcstown. 

DAVID ETTINGER. 

Born Lehigh count}'. Pa., Jan. 8(h, 1807. Married Eliza- 
})eth Borbst. Second wife, Bachel flyers. Came to Wads- 
worth in 1832. Established a manufactory of hats, which 
he carried on for 25 years. Still lives in Wadsworth. 

TiEV. CILnEKT PAY, 

Born at Westboro, Mass., May 2d, 1803. Graduated at 



W ADSWORTIl MEMORIAL. 
THE GEIHSINGEHS. 

UvAwy Goissiuger maj^ be regarded as the founder of the 
Old Mennonite society, from wliicli liave originated the 
dil!erei)t societies of (hat name, l^e was born in North- 
ampton CO., Pa., Mar. 5th, 1786. Married Elizabeth Kurtz, 
lleslded several years in Canaiha, whence he removed and 
settled in Wadsworth in 1825, where he lived, highly re- 
sv)ected as a good citizen and exemplary Christian. In 
1832, he went with his w^agon to Bucks co., Pa., and moved 
the family of William Overholt, a minister of that denom- 
ination, for the purpose of founding a church, and having 
stated preaching. He had a family of 16 cliildren, 13 of 
whom are still living, 5 in Ohio. He died Apr. 28th, 1872. 
Of his children living in Ohio, Barbara, second daughter, 
unmarried, lives on the old homestead. Mary, married J. 
Koppes. Lives in Montville. Sarah, married Geo. Baker 
Lives in Slankerville. David, born in Wadsworth, Oct. 
1825. ]Married Mary Mc Alpine. Lives in Wadsv/orth vil- 
lage. Joseph, born 1828. liives on the old homestead. 
Married Lydia Sliieb. 

Philip Geissinger, brother of Henry, came in 1827, and 
settled in' AVadsworth township near his brother. He re- 
moved to Indiana, where he died about 1860. 

GREEN FAMILY. 

Samuel Green was one of the early settlers of Norton, on 
the west side, on the Akron road. Came about 1819. Na- 
tivity not ascertained. He was one of the original mem- 
bers of the tirst Baptist, church in Wacsworth, and of the 
Disciple church. Died Feb. 10th, 1836, aged 56. His sons 
were Alanson. William, AliLon, Philander, and Calvin. 
Almon has been for many years a distinguished minister 
of the Disciple church. Married Mary Bennett, of Wads- 
Avorth. Now lives at Willoughby, O. Philander Green 
is also a well-known minister of the Disciple church. Re- 
sides in Lordstown, O. Calvin lives in Hinckley, O, 



19i WADSWORTII MEMOIIIAL. 

THE GEISWOLDS. 

AlGxaiider Griswold, a, native of Cl.. and a soldier of the 
Revolution, was one of the earliest settlers of ihf West- 
ern Ittserve. Was a man of ureat size and pl.ysieai 
strength, a true tyiie of the hai'dy pionct i-. Ue re-ided 
many years in Tallmadg'o, where he reared a large lanaiy. 
there being 6 sons and several daughters. Tlie .-ons -w ore 
most of tliem, like their father, of large frame and great 
endurance, and of an adventui'ous and enterjdising s[jirit. 
The history of five of them is iidimatel\' connecied wi'.h 
tlic early history of Western Star. ]n extreme old aue, 
Mr. Gi'iswold went to reside with his son-in-law and 
daughter, Mr. and ]Mrs. llustis. near Western l^tar. wheri^ 
lie died Apr. 2t)th, 1850, aged 90. His Avife was Luey 
Humphrey, of Goshen, Ct. 

Dudley Griswold, eldest son, was for many yeais a mer- 
ehant of Western Star, h'rst by himself, and then in eom- 
l)any with his cousin, William Griswold, and Sanford 1>. 
Clark, under the name of Griswolds & Glai-k. Mr. D. 
Griswold was a highly respected and intlueutial citizen. 
Was Justice of the Peace in ^Vadsworth. 

Three other sons of, A. Griswold, Alfred. Augustus, and 
Alexander, under the )iame of A. Sc A. Griswold, opened 
an extensive store of goods at Western Star, al)out 18-9. 
and cleared up a large portion of a tract of land of 800 
acres, Avhere the village of Dennison now stands, 'llui 
next year they bought 1600 acres more in Sharon, uud 
cleared a part of it up. A reverse of fortunes conipelled 
them to make an assignment of their goods, and most of 
their lands, to creditors in N. Y. They, however, contin- 
ued in active business during their lives. Alfred Gris- 
wold died Xov. 2M, 1845, aged 49. Augustus died Dec. 
2d, 1839, aged 38. Alexander Griswold died at Western 
Star, Mar., 1852. David, died Sept. 10th, 1834. Wm. Gris- 
wold married Esther Charter, of Tallmadge. Died Sept. 
KUh, 1842, aged 84. Mrs. G. married Dr. A.AVaruer. Is 



WADSWorTH MEMOktAL. 195 

no^V a \rklu\v in Iowa. Lucia Griswold, born 1799. Mar- 
v'wd Win. Uu.siis. Mi\ and Mrs. lluslis still live near V»'cst- 
orn S: ar. 

Eiiziii- <5risvVol(l for several years carried on a hat facto- 
ry In company with James Sbaw, at Western Star. Was 
an aciive and esteemed menjber of the Methodist church. 
Di-^-'d July 29th, leU-t, aged 3:"), Levi Griswold, brother of 
Elizur. died at Western Star Apr. loth. ISOO, ai>'ed (j7. 

IIATtD FAAIILIES. 

Abraham Hard, lirst. was born in London about 17ol», 
and in company with his two brothei's came to America 
and settled in Xew Milli'oid. C"t.. about the year 17;">0. llis 
sons were Step'ien, -abraham, and Lysandtr. Abr.-diam, 
Irrst, died at Bran!h)n, Vl.. wliither he had removed during 
the Revolution. During tiie wars ids family was <b-iven 
from their home by the Indians. Abraham Hard, second, 
married Kebecca Flagg, M'liose grandmother, named Ken- 
dai, came to thi'S country in the May Flower. 

Abraiiam and L\ sander Hard came from Yt. in 1816, and 
settled in Wadsworth. 1818. Abraham Hard, second, was 
born in Xew Mi 11 ford. Ct.. July 7tli, 1766. lie was an ac- 
tive, e:irnest, and consistent member of the Methodist 
church, always ready to sacrifice time, labor, or money ibr 
the cans*' of religion. The Methodist churcli of Wad.'- 
worth and Iliver Siyx. in the early days of its history, 
owe<l mu<-h for its life and prosperity to tlie labors of 
'•Father Hard.'' and his ecunilly excellent wife. He died 
Aug. Lith, 1814, agerl 78. 3Irs. H. died Mar. llth, 1860, 
aged 91. 

Lysander Hard, brother of Abraham, was born in Ct., 
date unknown. He was a preacher of the Melliodist 
chui-cii. ot the traveling connection in Vermont, but ''lo- 
cated "' in Ohio. He preached the lirst sermon ev^er deliv- 
ered in Wadsworth. Date o»f death unknown. His sec- 
ond wife (widow Holcomb) lived to the age of 98. 



1^(3 waDswqrtm MEMOkiAL 

Children of Abraliaiii Hard: Aurelia, born Jan. 4tlj, 
1791. Married Wni. Plielpsf. Now resides near l?iver 
kSUx. Sophia, married Abel Johnson, of Vt. Came to 
WadbWorlh a widow, in 1829, where her four children 
died. One of them, H. C. Johnson, a man of brilliant tal- 
ent, was editor of the AVooster liepubllcan, and Sandusky 
JieLjister. Mrs. J. resides at Foe. Cyrus Hard, born in 
Salisbury, \'t., July SSth, 1795. Came to Wadsworth be- 
lore his tathcr, remained a brief time, and located in Mid- 
dlebury, where he erected the first fulling and carding 
works in this part of the Western Reserve. He married 
Lydia Hart. His carding and fulling works in AVads- 
worth are mentioned elsewhere. He was a prominent 
citizen, several times elected Justice of the Peace. Was a 
member of the Congregational denomination. Died Aug., 
1865. Roseila, born Apr. 24th, 1798. Married Chauncey 
Hart. Abraham Hard, third, born in Berkshire, Vt., Nov. 
29th, 1800. Married Susan E. Burroughs. Resided till 
his death near his father in Wadsworth. Died Jan. 28th, 
1850. Julia, born Apr. 1st, 1806. Married Caleb Battles. 
Resides in Akron. Laura, born Jan. 3d, 1809. Married 
L. Allen. Lives in Brunswick. Lucius Nelson, born in 
Berkshire, May 30th, 1812. Came with his father in 1818. 
Married Rebecca Snyder. Is a house joiner and architect. 
Lives in Wadsworth. Dr. Moses K., born in Wadsworth, 
Aug. 10th, 1818. Educated at Delaware College, O. Was 
several years a preacher in the Methodist connection, and 
is now located in VVooster. 

Children of Cyrus Hard: Dr. Hanson, born 1821. 
Studied with Dr. G. K. Rardee. Graduated at Cleveland 
Med. Coll. Practiced several years in Ohio, Ind., 111., and 
Wis. Now lives in St. Louis. Lalayette, born 182.3. At- 
torney at law. Studied with A. Pardee. Resides in Cal. 
Dr. E. G., studied with Dr. A. Fisher. Graduated at Clevi - 
land. Practices at Medina. Pulaski C, Esq., is noticed 
under the head of attornejs of AYadsworth. Married Sa- 



i'iih V. Mittiier. Julia E., married Judge Don A. Pardee, 
of New Orleans, ('aroline, married Geo. K. Pardee, ol* 
AVadswortli. Elbert J. Hard, born 1848. Married Filhi 
Oeliart. Is a mechanie in Wadsworth. 

P. W. and IT. H. Hard, sons of Abraham Hard, reside, 
one in Montville, the other in Sharon. 

Dr. Harlow Hard, son of Rev. Lysander Hard, wan a 
physician of considerable note in Ohio and Ind. Died in 
111. Mrs. Lysander Hard had two sons, once well known 
here. Davis Holcomb, born in Goshen, Ct. Died in Nor- 
ton, 1828. Welles Holcomb, now^ lives near Cleveland. 

HARRIS FAMILY. 

Samuel Harris, born in Say brook, Ct., Aug-. 23d, 1707, 
was one of the pioneers of Guilford, 1820-23. Moved 
there with his family in 1826. Married Mabel Gibbs. 
He had three sons in the Mexican War: John S., now of 
La Crescent, Minn. Wm. T., died in the U. S. iVrmy, Jul, 

3 )th, 1847. Albert D., killed in the battle of Churidnisco, 
Aug. 20th, 1847. Franklin Harris, now of Akron, served 

4 years in tiie war of the Kebellion. Samuel Harris died 
July 22d, 1844. Mrs. H. still lives in Seville, aged 75. 

Waters Hairis, brother of Samuel, born in Say brook, 
Ct., 1805. Came about 1830, and established a large tan- 
nery at Seville, where he still resides. 

WILLIAM HOSMER, 

Born in Hartford, Ct., 1741. He witli six brothers served 
in the Revolution, two of whom were killed in battle. In 
1817, he came on foot from Southwick, Mass., to his son's 
in Guilford, performing the journey in 49 days. He was 
then 76 years of age. His family moved to Guilford soon 
after. He was the first Post Master in Seville. Died Jul. 
18th, 1839, in his 99th year. 

Henry Hosmer, son of \\^m., was born in Hartford, Ct., 
May 22d, 1793. Was in the war of 1812, at New London, 



]{)3 WADSWORtll MEMOiiiAL 

Ct. Came to Guilford l.>10. Married Lucy Ilayos. lie 
located Seviile village. Was Justice of the Peace, County 
Commissioner, Coroner, raid Associate Judge ot Medina 
county, besides at Seviile. Cliesler llosmer, born 1790. 

i^nls resides in Guiltbrd. 

CHAUXCEY HART, 

Hont in Oneida co., X- Y., Sept. 10th. 1797. Married Ro- 
sella Hard. Came to Wadsworth 1818, where he resided, 
Oil the Medina road. Mr. and Mrs. ilart liave been lor 
more tlian 50 years active niembcrs of the Methodist 
ciiurch. TlicN now reside in Akron. 

SAMUEL M. HARDEN'. 

Emigrated fnm >h:i!i ii/Ct. Married Asenath ^-prngue. 
Came to AYadsworth l-SlT. Was a stone-cutter, and a good 
am! t citizen. Moved to Sharon in 1829. where he 

die. . 18th, 1857, aged 76. Children: Julia, married 

Edv^-ard Chandhr. Luciuda. married Uriali Allen. Eliza- 
beth, and Harriet, single. i-oJde in Sliaron. iNlarv, born 
1812. Married Alex. IJobb. Lois, born 1812. M;n-rie<i S. 
Johnson. liirani ILtydcn. E>{|., born Cantield, ().. Aug. 
9tii, 1815. Married Emeline Briggs. Resides in Sliaron. 

THE ITILT.IATjnS. 

(Jurdnn Tlilliard can.e to AYadsworth from Torrisigton, 
Ct., 1818. and seltled in the north part of Wadsworth, 
where he lived till about 1835. when he removed to Mich. 
He married Adeline Derthick. Second wife, Mrs. lUrffe. 
He is still living in Ohio, upwards of 80 years old, for sev- 
eral years past totally blind. 

Robert liilliard, brothiu' of Gurdon. born in Stonington, 
came about 1820. Married Alice K. Briggs. Died Eeh., 
1874. The liilliard brothers cleared a great tjuantity of 
land in the early days of the settlement. Childr.-n of Rob- 
ert ililliard: Emily, horn June 15tb, 1840. Married 



WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 1^9 

I. H. Cl>au,;llov. Ilem-y H., l...n, An,,'. 2Ut, lSt2 Mar- 
ried Adelo G. r.u-a,'.'. Xewlui., l.on, .lune 1 ' l^' l****- 
M"n-k..l A.i„.s Cl.au.ile,-. .iau.. U.:.u Mn.. 28.1, s-19 

Weallln ■ lliirKU-a. .i.ter cl' <;. .n.l K.. u,arn«a ..,,k:„,s 
.,„l,„.on, or IU,vU,n. (). Sarah. uuu-Ho.i Jl.,.=m.. I'atdu.n. 
feecoml im.bau,!., ll.-uvy ^la.nuu d. Live, m Iowa. -\au- 
cy, luan-icd Isaac M. Sui-'U. 

HINSDM.F. K-Wllt.V. 

Cunt Klislia llin-silale. bom in lla.-wi.iton. Ct, Feb. 281!. 
ncl Was ii. the ItevoUition li.i'ce yfai-.s. Was 0..C ol 
ll.ose wl.o, ii. tl.e most disoov.,-aai..g- tiu.o o. that strui^glc, 
wi.ue.-ed at Valley Fo.-ge. He was a „.a....laet«.-e.- o ..a- 
es a,.d sevtl.es i., To.-,i..glo.,. Ct. M.>v.d to Ol,.o i,. Islb 
S.'ttled i.i isn in No.-to.., o„ the Ak.'o.. vu'm\. a.,d set u|> a 
blaeks...i.l. sl.op, wbieh was veso.-.c.d to fo.' wo.-k .>.• .^.es 
a„.o....d. He ...an-Ied Asei.ath P..,,-.,c.. ^-^ '\;\"^; 
EHzabetl. Ko'coiub. He was several t,.,.es eu.^.-d .T,,.Uce 
of the Peaee i.i Norto.i township. L.ed June 2id lb-_ . 

(■lii!d.-en of Elisha Hinsdale : EUsha. jr.. born Ap.-. -.d, 
17111. Married Orpbelia Whiting. Itesided several years 
in Norton. Died in Mich.. Feb. 4(1. I8ab. Juhus- oo^n 
1795. Crane with his t^the.-. Died i,. l-<y»«^"''';';\^ _; 
>her,..an. n.arried Eli.a Oviatt. L.ved ,nany yeai s n No 
t;,,,. Died in Wellington, Aug. 3d. 8o9 ^«-*^- ^^^ 
1799. Ma.-ried Edward Spicer. D,ed .T...y 8tl . lbo3. A 
bert Hinsdale, bor,. in To.rington July IMh, 1-W- J^' ' 
riod Clarinda Eyles. Moved into the no.-tn pari o.W ads- 
worth township i.i 1S35. whe.-e he still vesu es. Geo f^e^ 
bo.-n m B.-acevilie, O. Was a builder and areh.tect. 1 >icd 

Ma.-. 31st, 1842. , 

Wl.itin<r Hinsdale, son of Elisha, .,r., bor.i l;-lo. Mai- 

ried Abi.;;.! Bennett, of Wadsworth. Lives .n Mieh. _ 
Children of Albert Hinsdale : Bn.-ke A., b.,n, Mar. oist 

1837 Is President of the College .it Hi.-ani. Luldon, bom 

4.pr 3Uth, 1814. Now resides in Wadsworth. Louisa, 



200 W A I)S WORTH M KMOIU A h. 

born April HOth. 1841. Wilbert, bom May 2:3d, 1851. 

.TOllN.SOX FAMILY. 

DcH. Cyrus M. Johnson, born in Soutlibury, Ct., Oct. 
7th, 1772. Married Elizabeth Whittlesy, of AVasliington, 
Ct. Id 1796 lie moved to Fairfield, N. Y. In 183:^ to 
Sharon, wliere they resided until their death — ^Mr. J. Nov. 
llth, 1853, and Mrs. J. Oct. 5th, 1848. They were leading 
members of the Cono-. church of Sharon. 

liev. William Johnson, eldest son, born Fairtield, N. Y., 
May 26t,h, 1797. Came in 1834. Organized the Cong, 
church of Sharon, of which he was the only pastor. Me 
preached 13 years in Sharon. Now resides in Obei-lin. 
Sheldon W. Johnson, born 1800. (.-ame with his tather 
in 1833, and lived many years in Sharon. Died in Cleve- 
land, 1856. Homer Johnson, born in Fairfield. N. Y ., Aug. 
15th, 1810. Married Lucy A. Wilder. Still lives in Shar- 
on. Samuel Johnson, born Aug. 4th, 1815. Married Lois 
ilayden. Moved to Kansas, and died in 1861. ivlary 
Johnson, died in Oberlin, 1865, aged 70. Eliz;t, married 
George Codding. Died in Granger, 1861, aged 57. Sarah, 
married Mr. Lance. Died in Milton, 1862, aged 62. 

HIRAM C. KINCiSnUlJY, 

Came from Vermont 1819. Erected the first blacksmith 
shop in Wadsworth village. Married Clarissa Field, of 
Erattleboro, Vt. He was a skillful maker of edged tools, 
liesided upwards of 40 years in Wadsworth. Died at 
Weymouth, Nov, 18th, 1867, aged 73. Children : Fn nces 
( Hamlin), born 1821. Resides at Weymouth. Gi oige, born 
1823. Lives in 111. Helen M. (Paynter), lives in Wey- 
mouth. Sophia, married Mr. Fteader. Lives in Iowa. 

PHILEMON KIRKUM. 

The history of Wadsworth and Norton would be incom- 
plete without a full description of one of the most 



WAD8WOIIT1I MEMORIAL. 201 

rciuiirkablc and eccutitrir moii ol'llic |)ionccr ])ci'io(l. Phi- 
lemon Kirlvinii was a nati'/c of ( Jiiiilbrd, Ct. He served 
4 years in (he lievohition, alter which he entered the pro- 
fession (d hiw. The following notice of him is taken 
from Boyd's "Annals of Winchester," Ct. : 

"Tall of stature, erect of ibrm, imposing* in manner, flu- 
ent of speech, imag'inative and im[)etuons, a Jetfeisonian 
of the lii'st water, he was a man of note in Northern Litch- 
field County. As a lawyer, he was well-read, ingenious in • 
argument, :ind oratorical in manner. The drawback to his 
professional success, and the blemish of his life, was an 
excitable and uncontrollable te)iii)er, mounting at times to 
frenzy. His com[)etitor.s at the bar, when unable to coi)e 
with him in argument, not unfrequently contrived fo arouse 
his passions, thereby u[)setfing his argumentative faculties, 
and destroying his sell-coni j'ol. lie eventually wilhdrew 
from the bar, and limited his practice to Justice Courts. 

"He w^as the sole representative of the Democratic party 
in the village (Winchester) during its early g"i'0wt,h. His 
jieiglibors were straight-haired P^Mlei'alisfs. He was thor- 
oughly indoctrinated and saturated with t!ic principles of 
lil)erty and equality. The Democratic farmers, 0!i the sur- 
roundiiig hills, looked to him as the advocate and defcndei 
of their political faith, and the organizer of their party. It 
was deemed necessary that a Democratic store should be got 
up in opposition to tlie Federal store of Mr. Hinsdale. 
Some twenty of his friends furnished the capital and 
made Mr. Kirkum the managing y^artuer. The gambrel- 
roofed building' west of the Lake Street bridge was erect- 
ed and well stocked with g"oods. A large, fanciful sig"u- 
board on the eastern gable announced that " riiilemon Kir- 
kum & Co." were prepared to sell goods to their friends 
and the world at large. It was the first sign -board ever 
erected in Winsted, aji(' it createc a sensation. The twen- 
ty partners, as they had spare time, were in attendance to 
see the working of the new in-stitntion, and discuss the 



202 WADSWORTII MEMORIAL. 

political issues of the day. Crowds of customers aud 
idlers were attracted to the ''free and easy "establishment, 
a,iid captivated by the principles tliere inculcated. A busi- 
ness so auspiciously inauL,airated did not fuKil its promise. 
Clouds began to obscure its horizon. The partners began 
to sec that a free and equal distribution of worldly goods, 
to customers unable or unwilling to ]>ay for them, brought 
no percentage of profit, and an inadequate return for meet- 
ing the bills payable, and revoked his agency. Mr. Kir- 
kum was found to be too imaginative and unsystematic for 
a i'ountiy merchant; but his integrity v/asunimpeachcd. 
lie resumed practice as a lawyer in a small way — talked 
philosophy, wrote poetry, made political speeches, aud 
rode his old white horse as if he wei"e charging tlic raidvs 
ot Cornwallis at Yurktown. His tall, erect figure, auil 
soldierly gait, combined with fluency of speech, rising at 
times to real eloquence, made him a man to be nolfed 
among lliousands. In 1814, as l)efore staled, he left our 
village, with his wife and son and worhlly goods, in a 
covered w\agon drawn by a pair of oxen, aiul wended his 
weary way to the Western lleserve, where he invested the 
small avails of his Winsted proj>erty in an uncleared but 
now valuable farm, located in Norton, Ohio, which he oc- 
cui)ie(l and improved during his remaining life, and left to 
his wortliy grandson, Charles Coe, Esq., wlio was his slay 
and comfort in his declining years. A change of residence 
and associations essentially modified his peculiariti(^s and 
smoothed down his sharp angularity of character. He di- 
versified his farm labor with occasional law i)ractice, imd 
in his later years became a most popular "stump spenker"^ 
in the Harrison and other campaigns. Mr. Kirkum tailed 
to -square his sharp-cut principles of Democracy with slav- 
ery propagandism. He saw with loathing the political 
ascendency of the Sonth and the kuiickling of the North, 
and would none of it. lie watched the prog-re&s of events 
with deep sorrow, and predicted the bloody issue which 



WadsWorth memorial. 20S 

he did not live to see. He died in 1855, at llie age of 91 
years. Age had not bent his erect form, nor scattered his 
flowing gray locks, which he wore in a Revolutionary cue 
or club to the last years of his life. His teeth, witli one 
exception, continued sound and white as long as he lived. 
Ilis wife was a Mills, of East Windsor, who died before 
him." 

George Kirkum, Esq., son of Philemon Kirkum, was 
born in VVinsted. Came to Norton with his father. Was 
one of the early yckool-teachers of Wadsworth. He be- 
came a distinguished lav/yer; lirst in Ravenna, and for 
n any years in Hudson. He died at Cleveland, about 18C(\ 
Eliza Kirkum married Eben Coe, of Winsted, Ct. On his 
death came to JSTortou with her children, and lived with 
her lather. 

Children of Mrs. Coe: Julia, born Aug. 2Gth, 1807. 
Married Peter Yoorlics. Gen. Voorhes, of Akron, was 
their son. Eliza, born Dec. 23d, 1811. Married Col. Sim- 
eon Porter, of Hudson, afterwards of Cleveland, a distin- 
guished ar,',hitect. Mrs. Porter, now a widow, resides in 
Cleveland. Charles Coe, born Oct. 25th, 1810, in Winsted, 
Ct. Came with his mother and resided with his grand- 
father, who at his decease letl to him the farm where he 
still resides. Mi-. Coe has been for ujany years one ot the 
leading citizens of Norton, and an iiillu -ntial man in the 
community. 

KOri.I NT FAMILIES. 

Matthias Koplin, born in ilnntington county, Pa., came 
to Chippewa in 1829. He had six sons: William, born in 
Maryland, Dec. 19th, 179(i. Married Mary Simpson. Re- 
sided many \ ears in Norton, moved to Wisconsin, and af- 
ter several years returned to Wadsworth, where he died 
Dec. 7th, 18G8. He was a respected citizen and a worthy 
memb(n" of the Cong, cliiirch. William Koplin, son of 
William, born in Pa., 1829. Married Mary Long. Resides 



204 WADbWORTH MEltlOlilAL. 

ill Wadswortli. Matthias Kopliii, jr., resides near Sandus- 
ky. Christian Koplin, married Magdalena Baugliman. 
Died 1838, aged 33. Solomon Kopliii, son of Christian? 
born 1828. Married Sarali Miller. Lives in Wadsvvorth. 
David Kopliii, born 1830. Married Mary Moser. Lives 
in Norton. 

Abraham Koplin, fourth son of Malhias, sr., married 
Eachel Baughman. liesides at Bates' Corners. Sous: 
Jacob, Henry H., Joel, Abraham, Reuben, and Eli. Henry 
H. traveled several years in California, Mexico, and South 
America, lleturned, and resides in Wadsworlh. Bev. 
Abraham giaduated at Heidelberg College. Is a minister 
of the Beformed church. Besides in Ba. Bcuben resides 
at Loomis, Mich. Eli at Bales' Corners. 

WIILIAM LAMPSOX, 

A native of Ct., a soldier in the Bevolution, and in the 
war of 1812, came from Onondaga co., N. Y., to Wads- 
worth in 1825. Died Sept. 27th, 1827, aged G6. IHs 
daughters were long residents of Wadsworlh, Norton, and 
Sharon. Caroline, married Milo Gibbs. Elizabeth, mar- 
ried Norman Curtis. Jemima, married George Balmer. 
Mary Ann, married Cyrus Curtis. Laura Ann, married 
Rev. George Elliott. Mr. Elliott died, and Mrs. E. was 
for several years matron of the lusane Asylum at Colum- 
bus. Afterwards held the same position in Indianapolis. 
Married Rev. Cyrus Brooks, D. D. Now resides in Saint 
Baul, Minn. Riley Lampson, son of Win., resided many 
years in Wadswortli, on the Medina road. A¥as a respect- 
ed citizen, a member of the Cong. Church. He removed 
to McIIenry county. 111., where he died. Curtis Lampson 
went to Loudon, Eug., in his youth, and engaging in a 
successful business accumulated a great fortune and [)c- 
came an English baronet. 

TJie two following were omitted l)y overslglit from their 
alphabetical order, and are liere inserted : 



WadsVvortii memorial. 205 

TIMOTHY HUDSON, 

Soil of David Hudson, from wliom the town of Hudson 
took its name, and a descendant, of the 6th generation, from 
Ilendrick liadson, the great discoverer. Married Cath- 
arine Brown, dangiiter of Frederick Brown. Was one of 
the pioneers of Wadsworth. His farm originally extended 
from the broolv eastward three-fourths of a mile. In 1823, 
he was appointed County Clerk and Recorder of Deedp, 
and moved to Medina, where he remained 16 years. He 
Avas a man of talent, and an earnest supporter of every 
philanthropic cause, particularly temperance and anti-slav- 
ery. He published a paper in Medina, called '• The Advo- 
cate of Human Rights," to which the eccentric Charles 
Oicott was a constant contributor. He, along with Garri- 
son, Gerritt- Smith, Tappan, Phelps, and others, was in- 
dicted by a South Carolina court for sending " incendiary 
publications" South, and a reward otiered for his arrest 
' and transportation thither. He removed to 111., and after- 
wards to Ind. ILe died at Ligonier, Ind., Oct. 2yth, 187J, 
aged 75. Mrs. Hudson still lives at Ligonier. 

Childi:en of Timothy Hudson : Eliza, born in Wads- 
woith, Dec. 6th, 1819. Married Rev. G. W. Palmer. Died 
in Ind. Rev. Charles F. Hudson, born in Wadsworth, in 
1821. Graduated at Western Reserve College, and at Lane 
Seminary. Was Professor in Center College, Magrawvillr, 
N. Y. A great scholar, and author ol' several theologicj;! 
works and a Greek and English concordance o^" the Kcw 
Testament. He died at Haddentield, In. Y., Apr., 1807. 
Timothy Hudson, born 1823. Is a lumber merchant at 
IJgonier, Iml. Lived in youth with his grandfather, 
Jud"e Brown, in Wadswortli. Married Ann Louisa Wol- 
cott, a native of Wadsworth. Catharine Hudson, married 
J. A. Flayes. Lives in Ind. Amelia, married G. A. Flinn. 
Lives in Col. William, is in lumber and mill business in 
Lagrangg, Ind. Cornelia, married V\^. Bunyan. Lives in 
Kendalville, Ind. James, died in the army. 



20G WaDSWoRTII MEMUlllAL. 

JOSIAH JAQUITH, 

Came from Vt. in 1829. Lived east of Stony Ridge. Died 
Jan., 1843. Josiali Jaqiiith, jr., came from Yt., 1831. Set- 
tled on the same farm with his father. Built an ashery, 
and followed the business of making potash for several 
years, hauling it to Pittsburg with teams. He died in 
Sharon, July 30th, 1842. His son, W. 11. Jaquith, is now 
an active business man at New Portage. 

THE LOOMIS FAMILY. 

Joseph Loomis, 5tli generation from Joseph Loomis, a 
wool-draper from Braintree. Eng., who came to Windsor, 
Ct., 1()3D, was born in Torrington, Cf., Jan. 19lh, 17(57. 
Married Clymena Taylor, Came to Wadsworth in 18J(). 
He was the lirst Juslice of the Peace elected after the 
township was organized. Was a man of intelligence, en- 
terprise, and intlnence, of genial temperament and benevo- 
lent spirit, and a (irm sup])orter of good morals and religi- 
ous worsiup. Died Aug. 15t]i, 1835. 

Orin Loomis, born in 'I'orrington, Ct., Nov. IGth, 170L 
Came to Wadsworth in 1815, where he resided till about 
1810, when he moved to Merton, O., and in 18()b removed 
to Oldtown, III., where he still resides. Tie married Mary 
Ann Eyles. I Te was <'losely identified will) the early his- 
tory ot the townshij). His hunting exj)loits have been 
mentioned elsewhere. 

Shernuiu Loomis, born in Torrlnglon, Ct., Jan. 2.3d, 1792. 
Came in 181(5. Mairi(Ml Julia AL Miiis. Second wife, Lo- 
demia Sackett. He was one of the leading men in the 
community in tlie early history of the town. Was Justice 
ot the Peace for several years, and Township Clerk and 
Trustee. Was universally respected and beloved. He 
was one of tin; original members of the Cong, (church, and 
one of the first teachers in the schools of Wadswoi th. He 
died Feb. 13lh, 1851. 

Children of Orin Loomis : Oscar, born July 24tlj, 1825. 



WADS WORTH MEMOllIAL. 207 

Married A. H. Ilandall. Lives in Looiiiis, Mich. Julia, 
married Luke Siuilli, Bruoklyu, HI. Joseph F., died in the 
army. Edwiu, Albert, ( Jriii, and Frank, reside in HI. 

Children of Sherman Loomis : Erastus Gaylord Loo- 
mis, born Sept. (ith, 1824. Married Harriet Eliza Pardee. 
He has always resided in Wadsworth, and been an enter- 
prising- business nnxu. No one has done more to build up 
the town and develop the resources of prosperity than he. 
He was five years a partner with John Pardee in mercan- 
tile business, and several years Avith his brother, E. IL 
Loomis. He is now cnufaoed with G. W. Wise in lumber 
manufacturing- at Loomis, Mich., and in coaVmining in tlie 
Silver Creek mining company, and in real estate business. 
He has been a very successful business man. 

Harvey J. Loomis, born Feb. 18th, 1828. Married Sa- 
rah Ann IJeasoner. He was one or" the early Free State 
men of Kansas. Has been several times a member of the 
State Legislature. Kesides at Mission (^reek, Kansas. 

Edgai- H. Loomis, born Mar. 22d, IS^JO. Married Maiy 
A. Bryan. Second wife, Margaret J. Mills. Ho was sev- 
eral years in mercantile business with his brother. E. (i., 
and in lunjbering in the firm of Loonds, Wise & Co. He 
was an able business man, ol' bonovo'encc and Christian 
principle, a mend)er of the Cong, chui'cli, and one whose 
loss was deeply felt. Died Aug. IDth, 1871. 

Julia Loomis, born Dec. 5th, 1836. INiarried Joseph 
Schlabach. Second husband, A. P. Steele. Mrs. Lode- 
mia Loomis still lives with her daughter in Wadsworth. 

CAPT. GP:OH(iE LYMAA, 

P.orn Torrington, Cl., Aug. 1st, 171J0. Married Ophelia Cook. 
Came to Wadsworth 1817. Was the first Township Clerk, 
and one of the eai'liest school-teachers. Jn 1821, he went 
to (Canton, where he was engaged in teaching 3 years, lie 
returned to Wadsworth and engaged in tha manufac- 
tare of fanning-mills, which !rad an extensive sale. For a 



208 AVAD.SVVOIITII MKxMORIAL. 

time also he cngngcd in iiiercaiitile ]nisinoss, and in coni- 
puiy with Cyrus Cui'lis l)uil( a sawmill on Ifoimcs' brook, 
which did considerable business. He also carried on a 
cabinet shop several years, and afterwards was eii«^a<^ed lor 
several years in the manulacture of friction matches. 
Capt. Lyman was the tirst commander of the niililary 
company after it was organized for the townsliii). J>y his 
encro;y and enterprise lie did much (oward the business 
pros[)eri(y of the iWace in its eai-ly history. ll(! was one of 
the original nn inbers of the (Jong, church, and lias contin- 
ued an active, earnest mendjcr for 55 years, lie has been 
Deacon of the church and Sabbath-school l^uperiidcndcnt 
Dioj-e than oO years. Mrs. I.y»n;in died ]'\'b., iSfJI), aged 75. 
Childn^n of ('apt. Lyman: Emily (Jhai-lotte, born l)cc. 
15th, 1812. She was a young lady wlio was greatly re- 
spected. Wii^ for several years a tivicher in Wadswori li. 
Married J )r. John Brown. Died Feb. 2;id, 183<S. l)i: C. N. 
Lyman, born in Wadsworth, May Uth, 1S19. Ilis jjrofes- 
sional hislory is given in thai of the j)hysicians of Wads- 
worth. Mtirried Caroline E. IJeach. Has i)ractice<l as a 
l)hysician in Wadsworth since 1813, excei)t three years he 
spent in Medina. Dr. Lyman is extensively known and 
consulted as a physician among the lirst of his prolessioii 
in Northern Ohio. 

TJii.^ n:oAs FA:\n!.v. 
Seth Lucas came from Colbrook, Ct., in 18L5, to the west 
side of Norton. 11(3 had suffered the am])utation of a leg 
the year previous to his removal, and the long journey by 
wagon was too severe for him, and he died, a few dnys 
after his arrival, Sept. 5th, 1815, aged 49. The circumstan- 
ces of his burial are noticed by Mr. Dlocker in the previ- 
ous pages. He left a widow, Mrs. Isabella Lucas, wlso 
di<?d 18;J8, aged 77, and four sons and two daughters. 
Capt. Seth Lucas, a man highly esteemed, and his brother 
William, an ingenious mechanic, both died in 1822. 



WADSWORTII MEMOlilAL. 209 

Sanjucl, the eldest, I'etaiiied the homestead till his death? 
JVlay 5lh, 18r»7, aged (52. llany Lucas, a luau of good edu- 
cation, a cri])ple, was i'or many yeai'b a teacher. In com- 
pany with Carlos Clark built a mill on Wolf Creek, on the 
Akron road, and afterwards was en<;a,iied in mercantih*, 
business in Western Star, in which he failed and lost his 
property. He was a single man, and no relatives remain- 
ing, he went to the Countv Infirmary, where he died. 

NICHOLAS LONG, 

Born in Westmoreland county. Pa., 1777. Came to Wadfi 
Avorth in 1824, and i)urchased the farm now owned by his 
sou, Joseph Long. Ho was a cooper. Died Dec. 23d, 
1S53, aged 70. Sous: Lewis, Jacob, Nicholas, David, 
John, Joseph, and AdauL Jacob, Lewis, ami Adam 
moved to VVesterji Ohio. Jncob is slill living. Nicholas 
married Amanda Blocker. Lives in jVlich. John died in 
the army. Jose[)h slill lives in Wadsworth, and holds the 
original farm. Daughters: Barbara, married David Col- 
betzer. Mary, married Christian reters. 

Jacob Long, born in Westmoreland county. Pa., 178L 
Came to Wadsworth in LS29. Built a sawmill and grist- 
mill on the creek, below the i)resent mills. Died C)ct. 21st, 
1861. Children : John P., born 1801;. Lives in Wads- 
worth. Catherine, married Benjamin Cunsaulis. Sarah, 
marrie<l David CfUnsaulis. Elizabeth, married A(!am 
Everhartl. Margaret, mari'ied Jacob Harter. Jacob, lives 
in Wis. Nancy, married Henry Dieters. Martha, mar- 
ried M. Harris. Samuel, married Margaret Koplin. Hen- 
ry, died in the army. 

TJIE ailLLER FAMILIES. 

Jocob Miller, a native oi Pa., was born Oct. 14th, 1785. 
Married Sarah Lutlman. Second wife, Mrs. Editha AVar- 
ner. Came to Wadsworth in 18l(). Was a tnan of influ-^ 
cnce in the town for many year«^ md i% leading" ntembyv K*f' 



210 WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 

the Liitlici-an chnrcli. Died June 6tli, 1859. Children : 
George, born Dec. 14t]i, 1807. Married Kebecca Baugh- 
iiian. Was eiigayed several years in mercantile business 
in company with his brother, John Miller. Was Justice of 
the Peace. Now resides near Akron. David, born Jan. 
tM, 1810. MaiTied Martha Mills. Was killed by the lall 
of a burning- building in Akron, at which he was working 
as a member of a lire company, Sept. 23d, 1819. Cathar- 
ine, born Apr. 13tli, 1812. Married Reuben Baughman. 
Resides in Iowa. John, born Dec. 1st, 1816. Was a mer- 
chant in Wads worth. Died Aug. 81 h, 1811. Harriet, born 
Mar. 3d, 1820. Mary, born July 28th, 1823. Married Al- 
exander Beck. Aaron, born Dec. 3d, 1825. Died on the 
way to California, June 20th, 1850. Elizabeth, died 
young. Susan, born Dec. 4th, 1831. Married Henry Tar- 
nielee. Lives in Wadswortli. 

Charles Miller, born in Granby, Ct., Mar. 4th, 1793. Mar- 
ried Sarah O'Brien, of Hudson. (She taught the tirst 
school in Summit county). Came to ]\orton in 1814, 
where he resided many years. Died in 111., Apr. 20li!, 
1811. Children: Cyrus, born Feb. 8ih, 1820. Married 
JIannah Reese. Resides in Norton. Asahel, Charles, Wil- 
liam, Marion, and Henry, ail removed to Wis. and HI. 
i.aura, uiarried David Stone. Abbey Ann, married Fred 
Wormley. 

THK MILLS FAMILY. 

Augustus Mills, sou of Capt. Michael Mills, of the Revo- 
lutionary Anny, and descendant, of the 5th generation 
li-oni Simon Mills, who came from Yorkshire, Eng., about 
1658, to Windsor, Ct.. was born in Norfolk, Ct., Aug. lOtli, 
1772. Married Martha rettibone. Came from Marcellus, 
N. v., to Wadsworth in 1818. He wa^s a thriving farmer 
and cnlerprising business man. He opened a laige farm 
and built the house where his grandson, Fra)ik Mills, now 
lives. Mr. and Mrs, Mills \vere among the original mern- 



WADSWOllTII MEMORIAL. 211 

hers of the Cong:, church, lie died Aii^\ IGtli, 1849. aged 
75. Mrs. Mills died Apr. ()tli, 1859, aged 74. Chihlreii : 
Sylva, horn Feh. lOtli, 1793. Was one of tlic earliest 
teacliers in AYadsworth. Married Lenmel North. Died 
June 27th, 1840. (\)1. Marry A. Mills, born in Norfolk, Ct., 
Feb. 13th, 1795. Came in 181f). Married Harriet Kuggles. 
Second wife, Mrs. R(!becca Grevll. Was long a liighly re- 
spected and intiueutial citizen, a member of the Cong, 
church. In 1844, four of his fa'nily were s\vei)t oil" by the 
epidemic erysi|)elas, within 11 days. Mrs. MilTs died Apr. 
11th, 1844, aged 44. He died Dec. 4th, 18!)7, aged 73. A 
few weeks before his death (Jol. ivlills made an earnest 
effort for the repair of the Cong. <'hnrch, which liad been 
for a long time out of use and in a state of (h»cay, giving 
the sum of $200 himself, and nrgirig forward the work> 
His funeral was the lirst service held in it after its comple- 
tion. Julia A. Mills, born Oct. 22d, 179(;. Man-ied Sher- 
man Loomis. Died May 27th. 1820. Philecta E.. born 
Apr. 7th, 1799. Married Daniel Warner. Second hus- 
baiul, Jacob Miller. Mrs. Janet Christie, of Akron, is her 
only surviving cldld. Died May 2d, 1814, r^nujan P. 
Mills, born in Norfolk, Ct., Feb. 9th, 1801. Married Sylva 
Pease. Second wife, Mary Hawkins. He was one ol* the 
leading citizens of Wadsworth. Died Oct. Uth, 1872. 
Philo P. Mills, born in Norfolk, CL, July 8th, 1805. Mnv- 
ried Amoret Bates. He still lives uik)u the original farm 
owned b\' his father and left fo him. William Mills, boni 
in Norfolk, Oct. 22d. 1807. Married Mrs. Lydia Hurl butt. 
Resides in Richfield. Martha Mdls, horn May 25th, 1810. 
Married David Miller. Now lives in Toledo. Nancy 
Mills, born Jan. 25th, 1813. Married Ijorenzo I^. Russell. 
Lives in Princeton, 111. Cyrus Curtis Mills, born Aug-. 2d, 
1818. Mai-ried Harriet Hurlbult. Second wife, Mary Ann 
Ilarter. Died Mar. 7ih, 1874. John L. Mills, died May 
7th, 1855, aged 34 years. 



212 WADSWOitTil MKMuUIAL 

Childivii of Harry A. Mills : Julia M., born Nov. 27lli , 
1824. Married Cliarles 11. Spragiie. Martha, born Dec. 
31st, 1825. Died Apr. lltli, 1844. Azor R., born Feb. 11th , 
1829. Lives in Iowa. Geo. N., Samuel J., Emma, and 
Samuel, 2d, died young. Capt. Henry A., born Mar. 12th, 
1838. Married Matilda C. Leacock. Served in the war of 
the Eebellion. Lives on the okl homestead. 

Children of Luman P. Mills: Charles P., born Jan. 
16th, 1829. Lied 1849, Lurilla, born Nov. 7th, 1830. Mar- 
ried W. F. Boyer. Lives in Wadsworth. Margaret, born 
Sept. 24th, 1833. Married Edgar H. Loomis. Kesidcs in 
Wadsworth. Luman G., Wm. D., and Ira 11., reside near 
Marshalltown, Iowa. 

Frank Mills, son of Pliilo P., was born May 14th, 183(1. 
Married Julia Grotz. Resides in Wadsworth. 

Children of C. C. Mills : Philecta E., born Sept. IGth, 
1844. Married Horace Greenwood. Ilattie W., born (3ct. 
31st, 1855. Ida M., born May 28th, ISGO. Adelia C, born 
Aug. 22d, 1862. Lottie, born Apr. 25th, 180G. 

WILLIAM MC GALLIARD, 

Came from Ky. to Middlebury. JNlarried Ann Newcoui b. 
Came to Wadsworth 1S31. Was a tailor. Died in 111. 
James McGalliai-d, son of AYm., born Mar. 19lh, 1821. 
Married Viola Eyles. Died Feb. 27th, 1855. JolTn McGal- 
liard, lather of Wm,, died in Wadsworth 1834, aged 73. 

LEMUEL NORTH, 

born in Torriiigton, Ct., Sept. 19th, 1790. (^amc to Wads- 
worth in 1818. Married Sylva Mills. Mr. Norlli was a 
man of superior ediicalion and talent. Was an early and 
able teacher, was several times elected Justice of the l*eace 
and held other olfu^es of trust in tlie town and county. He 
died Apr. 9th, 1832. Children: Rocse, married Thomas 
Nesmith. Jnlia, Married (Charles Coe. Phineasand Lem- 
uel, live in Hudson, Wis. 



WAbsWoiifit aiEMoftLvL. ' 2l3 

NESMITH FAMILY. 

Arthur Kesmith, born in Londonderry, N. II., Feb. 23d, 
1760. W'ds a Deacon in the Presbyterian church of his 
native town. Came to Norton in 1821. Died Apr. 6tli, 
1828. Chihlren : John, born in Antrim, N. H., Mar. 6th, 
1794. AVas a man of education and an able teacher, a lead- 
ins; member of the Methodist Church. Came to Wads- 
worth in 1824. llesided on the east line, on the Alcron 
road. Died in 1846. Cyrus, born Oct. 24th, 1801. Came 
to Wadswcrth 1825- Moved to 111., 1846. Milton, born 
Feb. 9th, 1809. Came in 1825. Resided in Wadsworth and 
Sharon. Moved to 111. Thomas, born Oct. 5th, 1810. 
Has resided in Wadsworth and Norton since 1823. Now 
lives on the ii^kron road, on the line of Norton. 

THE ISEWCOMB FAMILY. 

Rev. Obadiah Newcomb, born in Amherst, Nova Scotia, 
1774. Married Elinor Bishop. Was pastor of the Baptist, 
church of Hopewell, New Brunswick, 15 years, and of a 
Baptist cliurch in Pittsbnr^^, Pa., 2^0 years. Cauje to 
Wadsworth in 1820. Purchased a farm in the north part 
of the township. The first Baptist chui'ch was oroanized 
under his ministry. Afterwards the Disciple church. 
Jle was an able preacher. His servicers Avere souyilit on 
funeral occasions, more than those of all other ministers, 
for several years. He was highly respected by all classes 
of people, and exertiul a great influence upon the commu- 
nity during- his life. Died Oct. 2d, 1S47, aged 73. Mrs. 
Newcomb died Oct. IHh, 1849, aged 79. (Jhildren : Han- 
nah, born in Nova Scotia, Sept. 12th, 1799. Married 
Pichai<l Clark. Lives in AVadsworth. Ann, born Oct. 
8(h, 1801. Married Wm. McCJalliard. Lives in 111. Jas., 
born Mar. nth, 1804. Married Harriet Bennett. LiA^esin 
HirauL Margaret, born June 2<l, 1806. Married Julius 
Sumner, of Middlebury. Susan, born Sept. 19th, 1808. 
Married Augustus Pardee. Lives in Eureka, 111. Statira, 



2X4 • ^VADSVVORTll MEMOlUAt. 

boni Mar. 31st, 1811. Married PIciiry Clapp. Lives in 
Mentor. Matilda, born Dec. 24th, 1813. Married W. M. 
Eyles. DicdNov. 22d, 1847. 

REV. VARNUM NOYES, 

Born at Aeton, Mass., Jnly 1st, 1804. Graduated at Dart- 
n»oulli ( Jolle^e. Sindied theoloj^y witli Dr. Jacob Ide, ol 
INIedway, Mass. Married Lois W^alker, of Med way. lie 
came to Seville in 1831. Was nearly 40 years ])astor of the 
rresbyterian clniicli. lie still resides in Seville. A s-^n 
and two daii(>liter8 of Mr. Noyes are laboring as missiona- 
ries in China. 

THE PALMERS. 

Dennis Palmer was once a Meihodist preacher. Tie lived 
on tlie town line north of Western Star. AVas for many 
years before his death deranoed. Dnriiig that tinn' he pre- 
])ared a book, sold by sul)s<'i-iplion, entiiled '' Tlie Book of 
Visions, or Palmer's Theology. "' His sons were Franklin? 
Georoe, Dennis. Ambrose, and Asahel. Of the later histo- 
ry of Mr. Palmer and his sons it has been impossible to 
obtain any particulars, except of (reori!:e Palnu'r. lie was 
an active and worthy member of the Metbodisi chnrcli. 
Married Jemima Lampson. Died in Sliaron, May Gth, 
18(55, a<ied 04. 

Col. Aml)i"ose Palmer, brother of Dennis, was one of tlie 
orio'inal i^rojn-ietoi's of New Poi-tr.oe, once Avell known in 
Medina :ind Portiiiie fonnties. Resided at New Portage 
and in Wads worth. In 1833, he became a JNIormon and 
followed the tortunes of Joe Smith. Wiis one of the head 
men of that sect. Died in Missouri. 

JAMES TLATT, 

A soldier of 1812, came from PutTalo, N. Y.. to Wadsworth 
in 1818. Was the first shoomakei" in the townshi)). Mar- 
ried Matilda Sackett. Was an esteemed mendier of the 
Cong", church, i^ied in Ruogles. O. 



WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 215 

HORATIO PATCllEN, 

Born ill Burton, O., 1808. Married Sarjili Ililliard. Was 
eiii^aged in the tanning business several years in oonipan}' 
"with Levi Blakeslee. Was an active member of the Cong, 
church. Died in Burton. 

THE PARDEE FAMILIES. 

The Pardee brothers were in the early days of Wads- 
worth among the leading men in the town. There were 
originally 10 brothers, sons of Ebenezer and Ann Pardee, 
of Norfolk, Ct., who moved to Skcneateles, N. Y., and 
died in 1812. Seven of them lived in Wadsworth. 

Sheldon Pardee, born in Norfolk, Apr. 21st, 1788. Mar- 
ried Sally Weisner. Was engaged in mercantile business 
in Elbridgc and in Geddes, N. Y. Was several years em- 
l>loyed as salt inspector at Syracuse, N. Y. He moved 
to Wadsworth, and died May 6th, 1834. His family re- 
moved to Mich. 2 sons and 3 daughters are living. 

Judge Allen Pardee, born in Norfolk, Feb. 7th, 1700. 
Removed when young to Skcneateles, N. Y., whence he 
removed to AVadsworth in 1818. Married Phebe Poster, 
who died in 1841. Se<'ond wife, Mrs. Louisa (Bales) Wil- 
cox, lie cleared up a large tarm, mostly with his own 
hands. In 182(^, he and his brother John set u[^ the (irst 
store in Wadsworth. In 1830, the Pardees l)uilt a flouring 
mill (now Yoder's), which he carried on about 30 years. 
He also built one in Copley, and a carding and cloth-dress- 
ing works. Judue Pardee was 14 vears Associate JndiiC 
of the county, and 15 years Justice of the Peace. Fsom 
his eai'liest residence he has been one of the most active 
business men. and a leading man in the community. Jle 
still enjoys a vigorous old age, in his 8<)tli year. 

John Pardee, born in Norfolk. Feb. 20th. 1796. Married 
Eunice Chamberlain. Came from Marceilus, N. Y,, to 
Wadsworth in 1824. Was in mercantile business upwai'ds 
of 30 years, under the UnuH of A. & J. Psu-dccj Ac, J» i& E, 



216 WADSVVORTII MEMOIIIAL. 

Pardee, J. Tardee, and Pardee & Looniis. He was a very 
capable business man. Held the ollice of Justice of the 
Peace. In 1859, he removed to Pai'deeville, AVis., where 
he spent the remainder of his life. Mrs. Pardee died 
about 18(58. lie died June 24th, 1873. 

Ebenezer Pardee, born in SKeneatelcs, N. Y., Aug. 8th, 
1802. Married Almira Brace. Was trained to mercantile 
business from liis youth, and was a success!ul merchant and 
tkoroui^h-i'oino- business man. lie bei»an business in Cleve- 
land about 1825. AVas in mercantile business in Canton, 
and in bankint^ in AVooster. Came to Wadsworth in 1834, 
and went into business with his brothers, lie afterwards 
owned and lived upon a lari^e farm east of AVestern Star, 
now owned by Dr. llill. llemoved to Rochester, Pa., 
Avliere M i\s. Pardee died,, when he returned to Wadsworth, 
and died Sept. 5tli, 18G5. 

Aui^nstns Pardee, born in Skeneateles, Auj^., 1804. 
IMarried Susan Newcomb. Set up business as a saddler. 
Came to AYadsworth in 1832, and carried on the same busi- 
ness about 30 years. Now resides in Eureka, 111. 

Dr. Oeorjre K. Pai'dee, born Sept. 23d, ISOt). Put few 
men accomplished more in a short life than he. He whs a 
man of mark in the county. Studied medicine in his native 
town (Skeneateles, N. Y.) with Dr. Evelyn Poi-ter. AYas 
admitted to practice as physician at the early a<j:e of 20 
years. Came to AYadsworth in 182G, where his profession- 
al life was spent. He was a thorough student, and kei)t 
himself well posted in every new discovery. He liad 
many students who have made their mark as i)hysicinns. 
Jle was an active member of the Cong-, church, and took 
an active j)art in all educational, moral and religious move- 
ments, often giving lectures on temperance, and diilerent 
departments of science. At one time he gave to the young 
people a course of lectures on chemistry, which did much 
to awaken thought and investigation. Through liis intlu- 
encfi the iucorporatiou of AYodgiWorth Aeadcnjy, and ft 



WADSn^ORTII MEMORIAL. 



217 



"food ciiviilaliug library were ])rocnred. lie was alwaya 
in feeble health, but seemed to keep himself alive by his 
indomitable eneri]:y. He aeciimulated a eood property, 
with which he was always liberal to all charitable, benevo- 
lent, and iisetnl objects. Tlis wife was Susan Thomas, Avho 
still survives him. He left no children. Died Oct. 3d, 
1849. 

Hon. Aaron Pardee, born in Skeneateles, N. Y., Oct, 8th, 
1808. Came with his brother John in 1825. Married Eve- 
line Eyles, who died Sept. 13th, 1873. Mr. Pardee has 
from early lite been a leading: man in the town, and for 
many years in tlie county. A history of his public and pro- 
fessional life has been given in this work, in tke notice of 
attorneys at law. 

Children of Alien Pardee: Wm. N., born July 30th, 
1812. Was a lawygr, and held the office of Clerk of Medi- 
na county. Married Livonia E. Clark. Second wife, Car- 
oline Pardee. Died in Mich. Eujrene, born Oct. 5th, 
1811. Attorney at law. Married Eleanor Taylor. Resided 
at Wooster 35 years, in professional business. Now lives 
in Madison, Wis. Lauraette, born Mar. 11th, 1817. Mar- 
ried Pev. H. C. Jones. Lives at Alliance, Ohio. Ann S., 
born Feb. 21th, 1818. Married Homer Kin<r. Resides in 
Wadsworth. Norman C, born May 9th, 1830. Lives in 
Wadsworth. Mary E., born Apr. 13th, 1832. Married 
Rev. J. E. Rowe. Resides in Akron. 

Children of John Pardee : Caroline, horn 1816. Mar- 
ried Wm. N. Pardee. Died in Mich., 1847. John S..born 
1818. Married Emeline Benedict. Was several years a 
merchant in Milwaukee, Wis. Located a village in Wis. 
called Pardeeville. Wns appointed U. S. Consul at San 
Juan, Nicaraugua, and died there Sept., 1854. Emily, born 
Feb. 22d, 1825. Married Asahel Hanchet. Minerva, born 
Feb., 1825. Charles, born Sept. 29th, 1829. Virginia, mar- 
ried Yates Ashley. Jane, married G-. W. Vilas. 

Children of Ebenezcr Pardee: Haniet E., born in 



218 WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 

Wadsworth, July 23(1, 1S3J. MaiTicd E. G. T.ooiins. 
Kicliard H., born in Wadsworth. Jan. 13th, 183(). Married 
Nellie Ketchum. Resides at Waterloo, Iowa. Catharine, 
horn in Wadsworth, May 13th, 1S39. MaiTied Dr. John 
Hill, of Western Star. Mary E., horn at Wooster, Feb. 
16th, 1841. Married Lucian Moses, of Skcueateles, N. Y. 
James K., born at Wooster, Feb. 26th, 1845. Married Ma- 
ria Lukins. Lives at Salt Lake. Joseph W., born at 
Wooster, May 12th, 1845. Lives in Cal. Ephraim Q., born 
Apr. 2d, 1847. Married Jennie Hall. Lives in Detroit. 
Elizabeth J., born Jan. 4th, 1849. Married James II. Reed, 
Marion, Ohio. 

Children of Aaron Pardee : Wm. E., born June 6th, 
1829. Married Helen S. Dickey. AVas an attorney, re- 
siding in Cleveland. Died Apr. 6th, 1866. Henry Clay, 
born Apr. 27th, 1831. Married Catharine Houck. Attor- 
ney at law, and Auditor of Medina county. Almira S., 
born Jan. 17th, 1835. Married John G. Houston. Don A., 
born Mar. 29th, 1837. Married Julia E. Hard. Attorney, 
now Judge of 2d Dist. Court, New Orleans. La. Geo. K., 
born Mar. 1st, 1839. Married Caroline C. Hard. Attor- 
ney, resides in Wadsvv^orth, and has an office in Akron. 
Frances, born Dec. 25th, 1844. Married P. V. Wilkins. 
Ella N., born Sept. 5th, 1850. Married Dr. Wallace A. 
Briofgs. Sutlifl" E., born Sept. 14th, 1852. Now studying 
medicine with Dr. Bris^gs at Wadswcrth. 



oo' 



THEODOKE HUDSON PAKMELEE, 

Born in Goshen, Ct., Jan. 25th, 1792. Came to Ohio in 
1811 with his uncle, David Hudson, Esq., of Hudson. He 
came to Norton and camped in the woods on land belong- 
ing to his father, and cleared a field and sowed it to wheat. 
Returned to Goshen and taught the academy during the 
winter. In 1813, married Miss Harriet Holcomb, and with 
her set out for Ohio, with their small store of goods in a 
one-horse wagon, both walking more than half the way^ 



WADSWORTII IdEMORlAL. 



2l9 



They settled on what has since been known as the Parme- 
lee farm, on Wolf Creek, where during his life he was a 
leading and useful citizen. He was a liberal patron of edu- 
cation, founded a public library, and gave his children the 
best advantage for schooling. Three daughters graduated 
at Oberlin College. He was in his views in accord with 
the Quakers, but was connected with the Methodist church. 
Was an early advocate of the temperance cause and of 
auti-slavery, and benevolent to all in want. His useful life 
terminated Jan. 11th, 1813. 

THE PHELPS FAMILY. 

There were several distinct families of that name. Ed- 
son Phelps, came with his brother, Augustus, to Wads- 
worth in 1833. They were active members of the Cong, 
church. Edson held the office of Deacon, and Augustus 
was a leader of singing. Edson lived about 80 rods soutli 
of the depot. Was a farmer. Moved to Harrisville, where 
he died at about 80 years of age. Children : Calista, born 
1812. Lives in Lodi. Melissa A., born 1813. Married 
Dr. John Brown. Is now a widow. Lives with her son, 
John Brown, at Holland, Mich. Claudius, died at Lodi. 
Orville, lives at Oberlin. Augustus Phelps set up the fir^^t 
carriage shop in the town.. Resides with his nephew at 
Oberlin. None of his family are living. 

William Phelps, born at Granby, Cfc., 1784. Came from 
Hindsburg, Vt., to near Akron in 1815, to Wadsworth in 
1833. Children: William, born November 11th, 1810. 
Married Eliza Ostrander. Second wile, Maria Farns- 
worth. Lives in W^adsworth. Jane S., married J. N. 
Keese, of Piver Styx. Pebecca, married James Cunning- 
liam. Clarissa, married Moses Snmrix. Julia, Married 
Tertullus Brewster. Lucia, married Aaron Cunningham. 
Bassibrd P., married Caroline Brown, of Sharon. Timo- 
thy Phelps, brother of Wm., came to Guilford in 1819. He 
died Sept. 27th, 1870. Cicero Phelps came from Windsor 



220 WADSWOKTH xMEMORIAU 

Ct., to Sharon in 1829. Married Elizabctli Crane. Moved 
to 111. in 1853. 

THE RASOR FAMILIES. 

There were three brothers of that imnic among the very 
early pioneer settlers. Their father, Adam Kasor, came 
from Germany during the Kevolution, and came a few 
years later than his sons to Wadsworih, and died at a far 
advanced age. Christopher Rasor, born 1787. Married 
Christina Everhard. Died 18—. Sons : Eli, Jacob, Fred- 
erick, and John. William Rasor, born 1791. Married 
Mary Everhard. Died 18—. Sons : John, Frederick, Ja- 
cob, and Jonathan. George Rasor, born 1793. Married 
Margaret Smith. Children : Elizabeth, born 1817. Mar- 
ried Geo. Smith. Second hnsband, Jacob Coose. Lives 
ill Mich. Catherine, born Mar. 27th, 1820. Married A. J. 
Clark. Lives in Ind. Noah, born Dec. 28th, 1828. Mar- 
ried Emeline Smith. Resides in Wadsworth. Enos, born 
Sept. 13th, 1841. Married Phebe Faust. Lives in Wads- 
worth. John, born Sept. 25th, 1833. Married Susan Kis- 



singer. 



THE ROOT FAMILY. 

A. B. Root, born in Chazy, Clinton county, N. Y., June 
18th, 1813. Married to Relief Wood, Oct. 20fh, 1835, and 
soon after moved to Kent, O., and in Feb., 1812, to Sharon, 
where he has since resided. Children : Maria J., born 
Dec. 2d, 1836. George A., born Apr. 13th, 1838. Louisa 
A., born Mar. 26th, 1810. Erastus N., born Sept. 8th, 1813. 
Lermie C, born June 23d, 1845. Wallace P., born Aug. 
6th, 1817. Clayton F., born Jan. 25th, 1853. Fred J., born 
Dec. 10th, 1856. No death has ever occurred in thetamily 
except that of Mrs. Root, who died Apr. 28th, 1872. Geo. 
A. and Wallace P. Root were the first wdio started the 
printing business in Wadsworth, Jan., 1866. 



THOMAS REESE, 



Born in Frederick county, Md., Feb. llih, 1780. Married 



WADswokTii Memorial. 091 

Amami JL, 

Mary Coyer. Was a house joiner, an earnest and respect- 
ed member of the Methodist (;liurci». Died Aug., 1838. 
Children : Elizabeth, born Ang. 2J:th, 1809. Married Or- 
ris C. Wright. Sarah, born Mar. 20th, 1811. Married 
lieu ben F. Warner. Thomas, horn 1813. Died 1835. Ma- 
ry, born Apr, 26th, 1815. Married Jonas Southwiek. 
Catlierine, born Jan. 17th, 1817. Married Samuel Scri[)- 
lure. Susanna, born May 15th, 1821. Kebecca, horn 
Oct. 4tli, 1823. Married Dr. Jacob Mikcsell. Ilannal], 
born Apr. 18th, 1820. Married Cyrus Miller. Christina, 
horn July 21st, 1830. 

THE SHAW FAMILY. 

Moses Shaw, a native of Ct., and a soldier of the Revo- 
lution, was one of the pioneeis of Guilford, and for many 
years a resident of Wads worth. Was a member of the 
Methodist church. Died in Norton, Sept. 27th. 1835, aged 
87. Children : Joshua, born 1798. Married Ehoda 
Agard. Second wife, widow Johnson, of Johnson's Cor- 
ners. Died Aug. 5th, 1809. (Thomas Johnson, first hus- 
band of Mrs. Shaw, built the mills at Johnson's Corners, 
from which the name originated. He died May 31st, 1830, 
aged 45). Moses Shaw, jr., died in Seville. Rev. James 
Shaw, Methodist minister, moved West. Hannah, mar- 
ried Noah LeMoyne. Phebe, married Moses Johnson. 

SPRAGUE FAMILY. 

John Sprague, a native of Ct., came in 1817. Married 
Alice lluggles. Died Dec. 14th, 1825, aged 32. Mrs. S. 
died 1844, aged 48. Children : Ira, born 1820. Lives in 
Glenwood, Iowa. Charles II., born Feb. 0th, 1824. Mar- 
ried Julia M. Mills. Died Apr. 17th, 1859. 

SNELL FAMILY. 

Isaac Snell, born in 11. L, 1786. Married Abigal Chap- 
man. Resided several years in Westfield. Came to Wads- 



090 Wadsworth memouiaL. 

worth 1829. Was Justice of the Peace and County Com- 
missioner. Died Apr. 17th, 1851. Children : Job, born 
1807. Married Sarah BeUlen. Died in Cal. Isaac M., 
born Feb. IGth, 1811. Married Nancy A. Ililliard. AVas a 
member of the Disciple church, and respected as a citizen. 
Died Apr. 24th, 1873. Martin, born 1813. Married Eliza 
Davis. Second wife, Mrs. Laur:i Ann (Brown) Spellman. 
Mary, died 1835, aged 18. Chauncey, married Ann Scott. 
Lives in Cal. James S., died Mar. 25tli, 1819, aged 22. 

SMITH FAMILIES. 

Adam and Jacob Smith, brothers, natives of Pa., were 
among the first pioneers of AVadsworth. Adam had one 
son, Jacob Smith, born 1803. Married Mary Franse. lie 
died Feb. 3d, 1871. Daughters ol Adam Smith : Mary, 
married Geo. Kasor. Polly, married Christian Ever- 
liard. Elizabeth, married Jacob Everharil. Sarah, mar- 
ried Ivichard Montgomery. Susan, married li. Si)ringer. 
Hannah, married Justin Whaley. Jacob Smith had 5 sons : 
Peter, Philip, Daniel, George, and Lewis. Daughters: 
Christiana, married Abraham Cackler. Susan, married 
David Loulzenheizer. 

SIMCOX FAMILIES. 

Three brothei"s of tliat name were among the early pio- 
neers, Michael, Penjamin, and William. Michael removed 
to Harrisville. IJcnjiimin lived upwards of 30 years in 
AVa<lsw()rth. Died in Uarrisviile. ('liildren : Jerusha, 
married John Brown. Still lives in Wadsworth. Pere- 
grine I*ickle, lives in Harrisville. Betsy, married John D. 
IJaynes. IVEoved West. William Simcox, born in Pa., 
1792. Came in 18UI. Married Esther Pobinson. Second 
wife, Margaret Wheeler. Died Feb. Cth, 1855. Children : 
Pesin B., married l\ebccca Heath. Died 18 — . Nancy, 
born 1820. Married Joseph Bolich. 'J'albert, born Aug. 
3lst, 1822. Married Htuinnh Baugliman. P(!sidcs in 
Wadsworth. 



WADSWORTII MEMORIAL. 223 

SPTLLMAN FAMILY. 

James Spillinaii came from Ireland. Mar. Naocy OTrien. 
Was one of the earliest settlers in Wadsworth. Mr. and 
Mrs. Spillman were nmono: Ihe earliest members of tlie 
Methodist church. Ciiildren : John, married Abigal 
Ward. Charles, Mitchell, Henry, and Eobert, none of 
them remain in this vicinity. Dr. Flenry Spillman, 4th son, 
rose to considerable distinction as a physician. Married 
Lanra Ann Brown. Died at Medina. 

Harvey B. Spellman, son of Buel SpoUman, a r.atiA'e of 
Ct., was for several years a merchant in Wadsworth. Mar- 
ried Lucy Heiiry. Resides in Brooklyn, N. Y. 

JEHIEL SQUIRE, 

Born in New eJersey, 1794. Married Ida Amerman. Came 
to Wadsworth in 1829, and taught school. Moved to Shar- 
on in 1831. Has lived in Sharon, Wadsworth, and Akroii 
since that time. Has been one of the iuiluential citizens. 
Present residence Sharon. 

TYLER FAMILY. 

Benjamin Tyler, born in Uxbridge, Mass., Feb. 22d, 1790. 
Came with his brothers, Parker and Solomon, and lirst set- 
ted in Norton. Moved to Wadsworth in 1S25. Married 
Mrs. Olive (Brown) Bartlctt, wlio died Aug. 21st, 1874. 
He was for 57 years a member of the Methodist church. 
Died 1875. Childre5i : Benjamin, boi-n 1820, died 

1874. Joseph, born 1822. Married Eliza Ann Williams. 
Lives in Wadsworth. Solomon, born 1824. Kosina, mar- 
ried Amos Hart. 

Benjamin Tyler, born 1S20, died 1874. 

TURNER FAMILY. 

Alexander Turner, born in N. Y., Mar. 20M), 1797. Mnr- 
ried Betsy French, Came to Wadsworth in 1825, where 
ho still resides, Mrs. Turner died Kov* 7thj 1871, aged (JO^ 



224 WADSVVORTll MEMORIAL. 

Cliildreii : Alonzo, born Aug. 4tl), 1822. Lives in Idaho. 
James F., born Jan. 2d, 1824. Died Jan. 5th, 1883. Maria 
L., born Feb. 22d, 1826. Married Charles B. Curtis. C. 
Wesley, born Aug. 14th, 1828, died A])r. 27th, 1870. Jas- 
per, born Apr. 14th, 1838. Lives in Mo. J. Q. A. Turner, 
born Apr. 1st, 184L Married Mary Etta Traver. Ho is a 
hardware mei chant in Wadsworih. 

VAN HYXING FAMILY. 

Henry Yanllyning was of Dutch descent, born in tlie 
Mohawk Valley, N. Y. lie was a man of limited educa- 
tion, yet of strong mind, and in many respects a remarka- 
ble man. Was one of the earliest setilers of Norton, of 
whom mention is made in the sketch of the liistory of that 
township. He served in the Kevolution, and was promr- 
ted to a captaincy for an act of daring adventure which 
has never been recorded in history, but is worth preserv- 
ing as a Revolutionary anecdote, giving it in substance as 
he used to relate it in the later years of his life. A short 
time before the battle of Saratoga some event had occurr^id 
which made it desirable to capture and hold as a hostage a 
British officer of high- rank. General Gates privately re 
quested the Colonels of four different regiments to select 
each two men of great strength and daring spirit, for a 
perilous undertaking, to report at his quarters at 6 o'clock 
that cve^iing. Van Hyning was one of the number selectt d. 
They found the General officers in consultation with Gen. 
Gates. The latter, addressing the eight soldiers, said, "I 
have called you to propose a most perilous undertaking, 
which if unsuccessful will cost your lives, and wish you 
to consider it well and act freely. If you do not wish to 
run the risk it will never be known that it has been pro- 
posed. It is that you break through the British lines and 
capture an officer of not less grade than a Lieutenant Col. 
and bring him here. Every necessary conveyance is pre- 
pared, if we can have the men to undertake it. If you 



WADSVVOIITII MEMOllIAL. 225 

succeed you will be rewarded. If you fail and arc cap- 
tured, you will be Iiuuij: for spies." (Jnc of the number 
answered, "(ienoral, this is a Jearful inidcrtakiug, but if 
iny country needs it I am ready to make the sacrifice. 
Connt on me." Eacli of the others also answered, "Count 
on me." At 11 o'clock, all tliiu^s being prepared, they set 
out. They succeeded in overpowering a sentinel, and 
through him learning the location of the tent of a Lienten- 
ant Colonel noislessly entering his tent and taking him 
from his bed brought him to the American camp, from 
which in the morning a flag of truce was sent to the British 
camp for the Colonel's clothing. For this daring deed 
each of tlie eight soldiers received a commission. Esq. 
VanHyning was the flrst Jnstice of the Peace of Norton. 
lie was a man of great size anc herculean strength and 
endurance, of strictly ten.perate habits, and a devout mem- 
ber of the Methodist church, llis venerable appearance 
in the house of worship for many years, reminded the 
spectator of a patriarch of the olden time. He cl.)sed his 
pilgrimage and was gathered to his fathers at the great age 
'f 102, Dec. 25th, 1839. His sons who came abont thesam •. 
"^me with him, the three youngest of whom survive, 
were Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Andrew, Thomas, Henry, and 
Sylvester, all once w^ell known in Norton. The last named 
st-ill lives on the old homestead. Charles Lyon, one of the 
CJirly citizens of Norton, was a son-in-law of VanHyning 
He moved to Indiana. 

THE WALTZ FAMILIES. 

Inhere were two brothers of that name who lived frst 
in VVadsworth and afterwards in Norton, who were both 
soldiers of the Revolution, natives of Hagarstown, Md., of 
German descent. Michael Waltz resided for a time in 
Wadsworth ami for many years in Norton, and died in 
Sharon. All of that family have removed West. 

Peter Waltz, born 17^9, Married Eve Milliron. Served 



226 WADSWOHTII MEMORIAL. 

iivc years in the Kevolutioii. Was in 14 of the liarrtest 
lought battles, among- them Lexington, Bnnker Hill, Long- 
Island, and Brandywine. He eame to Wadsworth in 18h'^, 
and set np the first blacksmith shop in the region of Wads- 
worth, Norton, or Chippewa, at the corners of the town- 
ships. He was one of the original members and elders of 
the chnrch known as Emmanuel's Church. He died Apr. 
25th, 1832, aged 83. 

Children of Peter Waltz: John, born 1792. Married 
Elizabeth Brouse. Was a mason and stone-cutter. Lived 
over 40 years on the north line of Chippewa, west of the • 
Waltz Church. Now lives in Independence. Cathei-ine, 
born 1794. Married Peter Colbetzer. Christianii, boi'n 
1796. Married Adam Ilelmick. Peter Waltz, jr., born 
1799. Married Elizabeth Baughman. Came to AVads- 
worth in 1814, and settled upon the line of Norton, where 
he still resides. David Waltz, born Nov. 14th, 1802. ^L'lr- 
ried Lydia Baughman. Second wife, Sarah Keisler. He 
is a gunsmith. Besides in Wadswortii. When tlie first 
irame building of Wadsworth (the barn of T. Hi.dstn;) 
was built, David Waltz and Hiram Kingsbury made all the 
nails, both for the sides and roof, by hand. The building- 
is still standing. 

Children of Peter Waltz, jr. : Sons, Jacob, Simon, Dan- 
iel (died in the war), Rinehardt, Henry, and Absalom. 
Daughters, Lydia, married Samuel Donner. Elizabetii, 
niarried Jacob Flishur. Sarah, married Thomas Pitchey. 

Children of David Waltz : Joel, born Apr 9th, 1825. 
Married Catharine Blyler. Machinist, lives in Wadsworth. 
John, born May 30th, 1827. Married Mary Ann Wait man. 
Died in the army, Mar., 1803. Elias, born Feb. 16th, 1829. 
Died in the army, Mar., 1863. Franklin, born P^eb. 11th, 
1831. Married Libbie Huflman. Served 3 years in the 
war. Resides in AVadsworth. Benjamin, born Feb. 4tli, 
1835. Married Lydia Nonghton. Lives in New London, 
O. Reuben, born Mar. 12th, 1840. Married Emeline Elli- 



WADSWoRtIt MEiMoRlAL. 227 

ott. Lives ill Rouksbury, O. Laviiia, born Jan. 30th, 1838. 
Married Sylvester Scheontz. Fianna, born Aug. 12th, 
1843. Married Daniel Slanker. Louisa, born Feb. 4th, 
1842. Married Norman Ware. Amos, born Jan. 30th, 
1845. Married Nellie Dow. Lives in 111. Amelia, born 
June 22d, 1849. Married Warren Lane. Calista, born Jan. 
22d, 1851. Angeliue, born Sept. 25th, 1853. Orvis, born 
Oct. 19th, 1863. The families of John, Peter, and David 
Waltz, sons, sons-in-law, and grandsons, furnished 17 sol- 
diers in the war of the Rebellion, 3 of whom died. 

THE WARNER FAMILY. 

Salmon Warner, the first who set up public worship on 
the Sabbath in Wadsw^orth, was born in Westmoreland, 
N. Y., Apr. 26th, 1764. Married Lucina Field. Moved 
from ]'\airtield, Vt., to Wadsworth in 1815. His history is 
given in the previous papers. He was a man universally 
respected and beloved for his righteous life and Christian 
zeal and love. He died Dec. 5th, 1839. Mrs. Warner died 
Sept. 28tli, 1829, aged 59, 

Childroi of Salmon Warner: Harriet, born in Vt., 
about 1790, was unmarried. Died in Iowa, 1870. Lamira, 
married Oliver Durham. Reuben F., born in Fairfield, Vt., 
Aug. 26th, 1794. Came with his father in 1815. Was one 
of the leading citizens during his life, for many years one 
of the leading and useful members of the Methodist church. 
Fie was four times married. First wife, Hannah Bartholo- 
mew ; second, Sanih Reese ; third, Mrs. Chloe (Bartholo- 
mew) Griftin ; fourth, Susan Reese. He died Sept. 28th, 
1838. Lucina, married Alvin Agard. Salmon Warner, jr., 
joined the Mormons and went with them to Salt Lake, 
where he died in 1871. Capt. Daniel Warner, born in Vt., 
1800. Married Rhilecta E. Mills. Died Aug. 30th, 1839. 
Orpha, born 1804, died 1826. Horatio, born Nov. 1st, 1806. 
AVas a man of education and ability. Moved to la. Was 
for some lime Sherifl' of Clavtou county, and held other 



228 WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. 

offices of trust. Dr. Amos Warner, born 1808. Studied 
Tvith Dr. A. Fisher, of Western Star, and practiced in 
company with him at tliat phice. Married Mrs. Esther 
(Carter) Griswold. Eemoved to Garnaville, Iowa. Was 
an able physician and highly respected* He was killed 
by being thrown from a carriage. 

Children of Reuben F. Warner: Mary, born 1820. 
Married Rev. Jason Wilcox. Lives in Xorwalk, (). El- 
mer A., born 1822. Married Antoinette (,'rittenden. Lives 
in Iowa. Bennett B., born 1824. Married Eliza Cogslial!. 
Besides in Massillon, O. Edwin, died in Mo. Wilbur F., 
resides in Mo. Orpha H., born Apr. 18th, 1847. Married 
E. F. Ilassler. Besides at Bine Mound, 111. Hannah, re- 
sides in Iowa. 

THE WALL FAMILY. 

Christopher Wall, born in Germany, Nov. 27th, 1779. 
Came in childhood to Pa. Married Catlierine Baughman. 
Moved to Chippewa in 1823. Died in Wadsworth Oct. 
24th, 1853. Children : John, born Doc. 24th, 1804. Mai- 
ried Mary W. Baughmnn. Still lives in Wadswol"th. 
Xary, born 1806. Married Jonathan E\'erhard. Cliarles, 
born 1808. Married Sojjhia Frederick. Besides in Shar- 
on. Margaret, born 1810. Married Curtis Brouse. Cath- 
erine, born 1811. Married Jonathan Everhard. Isaac I)., 
born 1813, died Sept. 11th, 1870. Judith, born 1814. Mai-- 
ried Joshua Hartman. Abigal. born 1817. Married Joel 
Baughman. Peter, born 1819. Married Sabella Everhard. 
Sarah, born 1820. Married Abraham Keller,,. Daniel, 
born 1823. Married Lydia Fry. ■' " 

Children of John Wall : Paul, born Aug. 6th, 18,'^0; 
Married Isabella Buthaker. Besides in Wadsworth. Dan- 
iel, born Nov. 3d, 1835. Married Abigal Geiger. Besides 
in Wadsworth. 

Children of Isaac D. Wall : Sarali, married TTriali 
Wearstler. Lavina. married AVilliam Bhodew. David/ 
n arried Nettie Brigos. 



VV A DS Wo Rt It M tl M R I A L. 
HON. PHILO WELTOX, 

J>oi'ii ill Watcrbiiry, (/t., Mar. 7th, 1782. Mai'i-iecl Sarah 
IJhxkeslce. Was a Coh)nol in the war of 1812. Was one 
of the earliest seitlers of Montville. Afterwards moved 
to Wadsworth, and owned the farm now the residence of 
Orlando Beach. He was for many years one of the lead- 
ing- men of the county. Was twice Representative in the 
Legislature, and served one term as Associate Judge. He 
died Sept. 19th, 1852. Mrs. W. died 1852, aged 64. Chil- 
dren : Sally, born 1806. Married Caleb Chase. Second 
husband, Nathaniel Bell. Now lives in Iowa. Dr. AVm. 
S. If. Welton, married ('aroline Crocker. Practii^ed medi- 
cine several years in this county. Nov*^ lives in la. Su- 
san, born Sept. 15th, 1815. -Married Orlando Beach. Re- 
sides in Wadsworth. 

WEEKS FAMILIES. 

Three brothers of that name came about 1818 from Vt. 
They were men of great strength and vigor. Were car- 
penters. John Moody AYeeks, married Martha Dennett. 
Leavitt WeelvS, born about 1794. Married ( 'elestia Taylor, 
of Norton. AVorked as a carpenter many years in rompa- 
ny with his brother, Peter AVeeks. The greater part of 
(he bams and houses of the earlier years wei-e erected by 
the Weeks brothers. He died in 1870. His son, Cieoroe 
Weeks, lives in Akron. 

THE WISE FAMILIF.S. 

Three brothers, John, William, and Jacob Wise, were 
among the early settlers of Wadsworth, Norton, and Chij)- 
pewii. ATm. AA''ise lived many years in Norton. Died in 
Feb., 1851, aged 76. G. W. AA^ise, of the firm of Doomis & 
Wise, is his son. 

John VV^ise, born in Noi'thumbei'land co.. Pa., Aug. 17lii, 
1774. Marrioil Susanna (ioss. He ujoved to (/hii»i)ewa, H 
mih'S from W-idsworrh village, in 1817. lie w:is a wheel- 



230 ' WADSWuHtll MtMolilAL. 

Wright. IVlost of the spinning-wheels used in the early 
days of Wadsworth were made by him. He was a local 
preacher of the Methodist, aflerwards of the Albright de- 
nomination. He preached the first funeral discourse in the 
township. Died Jan. ISth, 1839. Mrs. Wise died Feb.. 
1875, aged 90, in the same hewed log house, built in 1817, 
which with the old wheel shop built at the same time, still 
remain. Children : Michael, born Jan. 18th, 1809, died 
Oct. 20th, 1873. Elias, born May lid, 1813. Lives in Ind. 
George, born Apr. 12th, 1815. Married Margaret IJear. 
licsides in Litchtieid, (). Uriah, born July IGth, 1818. 
Married Lydia Measei. IJesides in Chipi cw'a. Mary Ann, 
born Nov. 24th, 1822. Married Henry Isenbargor. Jere- 
miah, born Dec. 30th, 1825. Married Mary Bcall. Resides 
in Chippewa. 

AUSTIN WESTON, 

Was one of the well-known pioneer settlers. Lived in 
Chippewa, and for many years in Wadsworth. Married 
Susan Lacy. Was a local preacher of the Me'thodisl 
church. Dennison Weston, his son, married Julia Snell. 
Lives in California. 

THE WAKI) FAMILIES. 

Hezekiah and William Ward came from Burlington, Vt., 
and settled in Norton about 1818. Hezekiah Ward was a 
man of intluence i)i the township. Was several times 
elected Justice of the Peace. Was a carpenter, and a largv 
number of the Irame buildings of Wadsworth and Norton 
were erected by him. He married Lydia llurlbutt. Time 
of death and age not known. Sons: Myron T., a minis- 
ter of the Methodist Church, resides in Westiield, (). 
I^ifayette Ward is also a Methodist minister. Resides in 
Elyria, (). Azur Ward, resides in Indiana. 



WADS WORT II MEMORIAL. 231 

CONX'LUSIOX. 

The fbrej^oiiio- pages liavo been prei)arccl in the ho[)c of 
meeting a local want, and at the same time promoting the, 
ijreneral irood of onr beloved conntrv, bv each locality dc- 
ing its part to create and i)erpetnate a love for those insti- 
tutions under which our nation has grown up in less than 
a century to be in all the essentials that make up true na- 
tional life and greatness, the first of nations; having all 
the freedom that social beiuirs can ask lor — liberty without 
licentiousness. A strong government, founded not on ar- 
bitrary power, but developed manhood : where law is re- 
spected because men have learned to respect themselves, 
and public virtue, not the sword, stands as the bulwark of 
law. We trace the history of prosperous communities, 
and we lind the elements of their prosperity in the vir- 
tues of their founders, and throughout their history, their 
prosperity keeping pace with their virtue. With free 
churches and free schools, an open Bible and liberty of 
conscience, the Sabbath regarded and the pure worship of 
God maintained, we may stand our ground against mon- 
archists and hierarchs who would cunningly imdermi.ne 
tlie noble structure of Ameiican liberty, or the infinx of 
degraded peasantry, who, mistaking lib(n'ty for license, 
would overthrow those institutions that have raised the 
laborer to a freeman, and made the very word peaxnn^, one 
for whoso meaning we refer back to the Old-World insti- 
tutions. Almost every community of the North pofnts 
with pride to the military record of its menibers who gave 
themselves a sacrifice to save those institutions. Why? 
Because the North was colonized by freemen who becan.c 
free by obedience to the laws of God, the freedom which 
Christian virtue alone can impart. In the introduction to 
this work (page 2), tracing baciv the beginnings of our ii - 
slitutions, I said : "The social compact signed voluiitarily 
in tke cabin of the immigrant shij) grows into the town 
ordinance," etc. Reference' was then had to the well- 



232 W .VDSWOIM'II ME3iOlMAI.. 

known .socitil <tniq):i('t sigiiud in (he (t:il)in of the JNI'iy 
Flower. IJut in the resciJirehes for the histories of (he Ihin- 
ilies here ii'iven, 1 found nreserveil in the tUiniiv reeord of 
'J'iieodore H. Parnielee ;i siniihir (•onii)Uct, or "' eovenunt." 
as it was styled, signed on shii)bo:ird by a company of emi- 
grants form Guillbrd. Kng'., who settled the town of Guil- 
ford, Ct. ; showing" that such social compacts, as the foun- 
dation of govci'umcnt in the New World, were [)rol)abIy of 
common occurrence. 1 give this covenant, probably lor 
the first time to the world, as an intel•e^ting• and instruct- 
ive relic of early American history. 

("OVE^■A^^. 

We whose names are here underwritten, intending l)y 
(iod's gracious i)erniis.sion to establish ourselves in New 
ICngland, if it may be in the south part about (j>uinapos()ck'. 
(New Haven) we IViithfnlly pi'omise each to each, for oui'- 
s(;lvos and families and all that belong to us, that we will, 
tlie Lord assisting us, sit down and Join ourselves together 
in one entire planttiMon. and be helpful each to trl»e other 
in any common work according- to every man's ability, and 
as lu'cd shall require; and we promise not to dep:irt or 
h;ave each other on the plantation, but with the consent of 
the rest, or the greater part of those who have entered into 
this engagement. As foi our gathering ourrolves together 
in a church way, and the choice of officers and members to 
be g-atlicred together in that way, we do i-efer ourselves to 
such time as it please God to settle us in our plantation. 
In witness whereof we subscribe our hands tins first dav 
of dune. 1631). IJobert Richell, John I'dshop, Francis Busii- 
nell, William Crittenden. William Leete, Thomas Jones, 
John Jurden, William Sl()n(\ John Iloadlev. John Stone. 
William Flane. b'ichard Sutridge, John llousiuuoe, Will- 
iam Dudley, John Parmelee, John Mepham, ThoiuMs Nor- 
ton, Abraham Crittenden, Francis Chatfield, William 
Nol)le, Tlnnnas Neish, Hein-v Kingston, Jlenrv Doude. 
Thomas Cooke. Ilenrv Whitfield. 



CORRECTIONS. 

Since a portion of the edition of this work was bound, 
some omissions and errors have been discovered that jus- 
tify an additional correction. 

Omissions : Weeks family, page 229, Peter Weeks, born 
1792, died 1873. Wise family, page 230, Jesse, born 1820. 
Pardee families, page 217, Minerva Pardee married Josepli 
Utley. Resides in Milwaukee. Children of Augustus 
Pardee : Augusta, mar. Henry Plowe ; Odin, died Sept. 
2d, 1850, aged 20 ; Jane, mar. Elam Cook : Julia A., John 
J., Edward, r.nd Julian, residents of Eureka, 111. 

Of the first settlers of Sharon, Albert Amei-man and 
son, Peter Amerman, and Stephen Pratt. 

Errors of names : Page 152, tor Alfred t -hidister, read 
Samuel ; p. 134, for Jonas Swartwood, read Josiah ; for 
Joseph Kunkler, read James ; p. 120, for H. C. Jones, read 
J. H. ; p. 144, for Detwold, read Detmold ; p. 148, for 
Northtield, 12 miles, read Cleveland, 25 miles. 

From the memorial sermon the fact was omitted that the 
tirst Sunday-school was established in 1820, by Sarah 
Kingsbury, afterwards Mrs. Combs, of Tallmadge. 

In the soldiers' list, the following additional names have 
been obtained : The first enlistment was with the 75,000, 
for three months ; they were Geo. W. Burling, Eichard 
Packer, John Eaton, Austin Steele, Curtis Gingery, James 
Swartwood, Capt. P. C. Hard, Garrett Van Orsdol, James* 
Houghland, Henry Waltz, C. O. Packer. All these enlist- 
ed for three years. Austin Steele and John Eaton died of 
wounds received at the battle of Antietam. Also, in 
other regiments, John H. Auble, Bert Freeborn, AYilliam 
Lyel, McDonald Smith, Luman Beach ; John Huston and 
George Huston, both died at Nashville ; John Waltz and 
Elias Waltz, enlisted in Iowa, and died in the army. 



